FG Targets 20,000 Annual Jobs Under Jubilee Fellows Programme Phase Two

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to create at least 20,000 jobs annually through the second phase of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP 2.0), aimed at empowering young graduates with practical work experience and entrepreneurial skills.

Vice President Kashim Shettima announced this on Monday while inaugurating the NJFP 2.0 Project Steering Committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, ahead of the programme’s formal launch and a High-Level Policy Dialogue on Job Creation scheduled for Wednesday.

According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises youth employment and skill development.

Shettima described the NJFP as a “deliberate attempt to translate the nation’s demographic strength into productive economic power,” noting that the first phase, launched in 2022, had empowered more than 14,000 young Nigerians through paid 12-month fellowships in both public and private sectors.

Implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the European Union (EU), the NJFP 2.0 is designed to build on the achievements of the first phase while expanding its reach and impact.

Earlier, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, said the new phase will deploy at least 24,000 fellows over the next 10 months, providing two career pathways, professional employment or entrepreneurship support.

He explained that the target is to sustain an annual deployment of 20,000 fellows, adding that the programme directly supports Tinubu’s economic agenda centred on job creation, youth empowerment, and skills acquisition.

“It shows that this administration is not only focused on policy, it is focused on impact,” Hadejia said.

“Through NJFP 2.0, we are demonstrating how government programmes can translate into real opportunities for decent work and enterprise creation for young Nigerians.”

Shettima tasked the steering committee to ensure the initiative reflects national inclusivity, emphasising that placements must cut across all regions, genders, and social groups.

“In scaling NJFP 2.0, inclusivity must remain at the heart of our design,” the Vice President said.

“We must ensure this opportunity reaches every corner of the country, especially in sectors shaping Nigeria’s future, agriculture, digital technology, renewable energy, manufacturing, and the creative industries.”

He urged members of the committee to deepen coordination, ensure accountability, and deliver results that “speak for themselves.”