FG Aims to Create 20,000 Jobs Yearly with Revamped Jubilee Fellows
The Federal Government has announced a target of generating at least 20,000 jobs annually through the second phase of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP).
Vice President Kashim Shettima made the declaration on Monday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during the inauguration of the Project Steering Committee for the NJFP 2.0.
The programme, which is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the European Union (EU), is aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises youth empowerment and job creation.
Building on Past Success
The new phase builds on the initial NJFP launched in 2022, which provided 12-month paid fellowships to over 14,000 young Nigerian graduates in both public and private sectors.
Shettima described the programme as “a deliberate attempt to translate the nation’s demographic strength into productive economic power.”
Ambitious Targets for NJFP 2.0
Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, outlined the ambitious goals for the new phase. He stated that NJFP 2.0 aims to place a minimum of 24,000 fellows within the next 10 months.
The programme will offer two career pathways:
1. Professional employment placements.
2. Entrepreneurship support.
The long-term objective is to “put structures in place to sustain the deployment of at least 20,000 fellows annually.”
A Call for Inclusivity and Impact
While inaugurating the committee, Vice President Shettima charged the members to ensure the programme reaches every part of the country and reflects Nigeria’s diversity.
He emphasised that opportunities should be tied to key growth sectors such as agriculture, digital technology, renewable energy, manufacturing, and the creative industries.
“As we deliberate today, I encourage us to think not in terms of targets or figures alone, but in terms of outcomes that matter; young people whose lives change because this system works as intended,” Shettima stated.
The formal launch of NJFP 2.0 and a High-Level Policy Dialogue on Job Creation are scheduled for Wednesday.