The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled plans to invest $220 million in job creation for young Nigerians through the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0, in partnership with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who launched the initiative on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the programme aims to bridge the gap between learning and earning by connecting graduates with real-world work experience, mentorship, and skills training.
According to Shettima, the programme is designed to transform Nigeria’s demographic strength into productive economic power, proving that “when government provides structure, partnership, and purpose, young Nigerians rise to the occasion.”
He emphasized that the Tinubu administration is committed to embedding the NJFP into national planning and budgeting frameworks to ensure its long-term sustainability.
“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,” Shettima stated.
The Vice President called for public-private collaboration to combat Nigeria’s unemployment crisis, urging stakeholders from the private sector, donor community, and development agencies to contribute to a “NJFP Basket Fund” — a sustainable financing model to secure the initiative’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,” he said.
Shettima urged partners including the EU and UNDP to treat the launch as a renewed commitment to tackling youth unemployment as a shared responsibility.
He added that the programme’s success depends on inclusivity and transparency, stressing that Nigerian youth are not seeking handouts but opportunities to thrive.
“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 concluded.