FG to invest $220m in creating job opportunities for young Nigerians – Shettima
The federal government has finalised plans to invest $220 million in a new initiative designed to create employment opportunities for young Nigerians.
The programme, supported by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), marks the launch of the second phase of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP 2.0). It aims to connect high-potential graduates with practical work experience, training, and mentorship opportunities.
Vice President Kashim Shettima announced this on Wednesday while formally launching the NJFP 2.0 at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Shettima disclosed that the goal is “to bridge the transition gap between learning and earning for thousands of young Nigerians; graduates who have the education, but not always the opportunity.”
According to him, this will translate the nation’s demographic strength “into productive economic power, proving that when government provides structure, partnership, and purpose, young Nigerians rise to the occasion.”
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The Vice President noted that while the NJFP is a Nigerian programme shaped by national priorities and guided by the nation’s sense of purpose, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is determined to deepen the ownership by embedding the programme into government’s national planning and budgeting frameworks.
He stated: “This government will do its part — by ensuring that our financial commitment to the programme reflects our belief in its transformative potential. But national ownership must also mean national participation.
“As we launch NJFP 2.0 today, I call on our partners — from the private sector, the development community, and the donor ecosystem — to join us in building the NJFP Basket Fund, a sustainable financing mechanism to secure the programme’s future.
“Our immediate goal is to raise $220 million, not as charity, but as an investment in the nation’s most valuable asset: our young people.”
Shettima implored the EU, the UNDP and other partners to consider the flag-off of the programme as an opportunity to prove that “youth employment is not just a policy priority but a shared responsibility.”
He observed that when resources are pooled and intentions are aligned in the course of building together, a multiplier effect is created that benefits the nation’s economy.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the EU and the UNDP, noting that their belief in Nigeria’s youth has demonstrated what could be achieved through collaboration.
He said it was now time for Nigeria, through its public institutions, private sector champions, and philanthropic community to lead from the front, even as he maintained that inclusivity is key to driving the process.
“As we scale NJFP 2.0, inclusivity remains at the heart of our design. We recognise that our young people are not a single story. They live in different realities, across regions, genders, and social backgrounds.
“Therefore, this next phase will intentionally reach every corner of the country, aligning placements with the sectors that will define our economic future: agriculture, renewable energy, digital technology, manufacturing, and the creative industries.”
Shettima expressed hope that the second phase of the NJFP would turn out to be a success story “of how Nigeria turned its demographic advantage into a generation of productive citizens — creating jobs, building enterprises, and shaping the future of our great nation.
“The task before us is both serious and inspiring. The young Nigerians we seek to serve are not asking for handouts — only for a fair system that recognises effort, rewards merit, and provides opportunity. They are ready to build if we are ready to back them,” he added.
Ayodele Olawande, minister of youth development, described the NJFP 2.0 as a continuation of the federal government’s success in youth empowerment.
He noted that since the programme began in 2021, it has helped over 13,000 youths to gain skills, assuring that the initiative will build on its progress and achieve its long-term goal of placing 100,000 youths in jobs within five years.
Elsie Attafuah, the resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria, said the generous funding from the European Union and implementation support from the UNDP, over the years, are aimed at connecting potential to opportunity.
She noted that the vision behind the NJFP has come to light, resulting in over 40,000 Nigerians being placed in various economic sectors.
She stressed that millions of Nigerians need the NJFP platform to thrive in today’s economy.
Gauthier Mignot, European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, said the EU was looking forward to seeing the NJFP 2.0 programme integrated into Nigeria’s governance agenda to ensure its sustainability.
Abubakar Suleiman, while presenting the keynote address titled “Building a National Workforce for the Future,” the CEO of Sterling Bank, emphasised that millions of Nigerians can perform the jobs currently being outsourced to foreign companies if they are given the right opportunities, such as those provided under the NJFP programme.
He urged relevant authorities and stakeholders not to ignore the millions of Nigerians who, without support, may never transition from graduates to gainful employment.
