President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime is set to launch a yearly graduate job fellowship to recruit 20,000 young graduates into private and public organisations across the country as part of its poverty reduction programmes.

The fellowship is tagged ‘Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme’.

According to a statement shared by presidential aide Tolu Ogunlesi, application for the NJFP commences on Tuesday for graduates below the age of 30.

The scheme, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria, is expected to improve employability.

“The jobs will last for 12 months, will be fully-paid, and will seek to help prepare qualifying recent graduates for their future careers and work environments,” the statement said.

Mr Buhari’s regime has repeatedly vowed to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty, many of whom are youths.

According to the regime, the programme’s goals include “improving employability, building useful career and leadership skills in young graduates, and connecting employers and potential employees.”

Earlier, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had said the initiative would create internship opportunities for youths who have just concluded the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.

The launch came a week after the regime inaugurated 510,000 N-Power Batch C stream one across Nigeria. N-Power was set up in June 2016 to address unemployment.

Last June, Mr Buhari inaugurated a new poverty committee, appointing Mr Osinbajo as the chairman.

Speaking at the inauguration, Mr Buhari reiterated his regime’s commitment to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in10 years with a well-researched framework for implementation and funding. He noted that the NPRGS had already proposed establishing a private equity fund, the Nigeria Investment and Growth Fund, to lead resource mobilisation drive and sustainably manage the resources.

“This journey began in January 2021 when I directed the chairman of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to collaboratively work together to articulate what will lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years,” he stated.

The president further noted, “I am happy to note that the process of designing this inclusive poverty reduction strategy recognised and addressed past mistakes as well as laid the foundation for a sustainable poverty reduction.”