FG Targets 20,000 New Jobs Annually With NJFP 2.0

In a bold move to strengthen youth employability and accelerate enterprise development, the Federal Government has unveiled the second phase of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP 2.0), an initiative expected to generate at least 20,000 new jobs annually and deepen Nigeria’s human capital base.

The programme, a collaboration between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union (EU), builds on the success of its first phase, which empowered over 14,000 young Nigerians through 12-month paid fellowships that offered practical work experience, mentorship, and career acceleration.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who will officially launch NJFP 2.0 on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the programme aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing job creation, skills development, and youth empowerment.

“The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme represents a deliberate attempt to translate our demographic strength into productive economic power,” Shettima said. “When government provides structure, partnership, and purpose, young Nigerians rise to the occasion.”

The launch will also feature a High-Level Policy Dialogue on Job Creation with the theme ‘From Skills to Jobs and Enterprises: Driving Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship in Key Economic Sectors.’ The dialogue will convene government officials, private sector leaders, and development partners to develop actionable frameworks that can sustain youth employment and entrepreneurship in Nigeria’s evolving economy.

Ahead of the launch, the Vice President inaugurated the NJFP 2.0 Steering Committee, urging members to ensure inclusivity, transparency, and measurable outcomes. The new phase will place a strong emphasis on priority sectors such as agriculture, digital technology, renewable energy, manufacturing, and the creative industries, while ensuring regional balance and national ownership.

UNDP Resident Representative Elsie Attafuah described NJFP 2.0 as part of a broader effort to strengthen Nigeria’s job creation ecosystem and align talent development with private-sector needs. Similarly, EU Ambassador Gautier Mignot reaffirmed the European Union’s support for Nigeria’s youth empowerment initiatives, noting that NJFP’s collaborative framework serves as a model for sustainable partnerships.

According to Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, the programme’s redesigned structure introduces two clear pathways – employment placement and entrepreneurship support – to ensure that each fellow emerges either as a gainfully employed professional or a successful business owner. He disclosed that NJFP 2.0 will connect a minimum of 24,000 fellows to opportunities across various sectors within the next ten months, backed by continued EU funding.

For StakeBridge IRPR Consulting Limited, the NJFP 2.0 signals more than a policy milestone – it demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships, communication, and investor relations in driving inclusive growth. As a firm committed to advancing stakeholder engagement and sustainable business outcomes, StakeBridge believes the programme reinforces Nigeria’s potential to turn youth innovation into national productivity.