The Federal Government has announced plans to invest $220 million in creating job opportunities for young Nigerians under the second phase of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP 2.0).
The initiative, launched in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), seeks to connect high-potential graduates with practical work experience, training, and mentorship opportunities.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who officially launched the programme on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the goal is to bridge the gap between learning and earning by helping thousands of graduates transition smoothly into the workforce.
He said the scheme aims to transform Nigeria’s youthful population into a powerful economic force.
“This will translate our demographic strength into productive economic power, proving that when government provides structure, partnership, and purpose, young Nigerians rise to the occasion,” Shettima said.
The Vice President emphasised that while the NJFP remains a national programme shaped by Nigeria’s priorities, President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to institutionalising it within the government’s planning and budgeting frameworks.
“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,” he added.
Shettima urged the private sector and development partners to support the NJFP Basket Fund — a sustainable financing mechanism for the programme — saying the target is to raise $220 million “not as charity, but as an investment in the nation’s most valuable asset: our young people.”
He called on the EU, UNDP, and other stakeholders to view the partnership as a shared responsibility toward tackling youth unemployment and promoting inclusive development.
“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,” the Vice President stated.
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