Vice President Kashim Shettima has inaugurated the steering committee of the Nigeria Jubilee Programme (NJFP) as part of measures to scale up employment and enhance the employability of fresh graduates.

Mr Shettima inaugurated the steering committee of the NJFP at the Presidential Villa on Monday

He described the programme as a decisive step by the administration of President Bola Tinubu toward equipping Nigerian youths with the required tools to become employees, innovators and leaders in their chosen careers.

NJFP, an initiative of the Nigerian government being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with seed investment by the European Union (EU), is coordinated by the office of the Vice President.

It was established to address challenges confronting Nigerian graduates in accessing meaningful jobs.

“The scheme is also meant to develop, test and deploy a scalable model that will effectively tackle the root causes of growing unemployment and underemployment in Nigeria.

“The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme is more than just an employment initiative—it is a catalyst for broader engagement in youth-driven innovation, employability, and entrepreneurship.

“Programmes like this are a decisive step toward equipping our youth with the tools to become not just employees but also innovators and leaders in their respective fields,” said Mr Shettima.

According to him, the NJFP has made commendable progress, and it is now time to build on that foundation to provide wider coverage through innovative adaptations.

He said such innovative adaptations would ensure that the programme did not just provide job placements but also emphasised the development of key skills through practical, real-world applications.

Mr Shettima implored stakeholders and development partners to act cooperatively to combat the menace of unemployment.

“Unemployment remains a critical challenge for Nigeria, and youth unemployment is an even more pressing concern. As a government, we fully recognise the far-reaching consequences that economic downturns have on young people.

“Prolonged periods of unemployment or underemployment can hinder future income potential and significantly diminish career opportunities. This is precisely why today’s gathering is so important.

“We cannot afford to delay; we must act collectively to tackle this issue before it severely undermines our future.

“It is, therefore, with a deep sense of responsibility and urgency that I convene this inauguration of the Steering Committee for the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP),” said Mr Shettima.

Earlier, Elsie Attafuah, the UNDP resident representative in Nigeria, commended the federal government for its commitment to advancing Nigerian human capital development, particularly youth development.

She noted that many young Nigerians had been breaking barriers, opening up new frontiers based on their talent – not just locally but also on the global stage.

“Young Nigerians are demonstrating to the world that they have the capacity and ingenuity to transform not just their own lives but also those of their communities and Africa at large. Nigeria does not carry last,” she stated.

According to Ms Attafuah, NJFP seeks to champion home-grown talent, connecting young Nigerians with local opportunities through 12 months of placement where they apply their expertise to gain market-ready skills.

On his part, Massino de Luca, the European Union head of cooperation, said the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme was a flagship that generated pride and excitement, not only here in their Abuja office but also in the EU Headquarters.

He maintained that youth involvement and focus remained the ace of the EU’s action in Nigeria, even as he said NJFP typified the EU’s commitment to the youth agenda in Nigeria and the world.

He said the fundamental aspect of the programme was finance sustainability, which the EU had funded with 44 million Euros.

He added that Nigerian and European businesses had both benefited from the programme, and since its inception, it has built strong relationships and partnerships and empowered thousands of fellows.

Shedding light on the impact of the programme on the ministry of youth development, Jamila Bio Ibrahim, minister of youth development, said the NJFP was an initiative which aligned with the ministry’s initiative called the work-experience programme.

According to her, graduates are fixed into jobs through the programme, and there is an opportunity to improve and upscale the programme with the NJFP programme.

She said her ministry had the agenda to create 10 million jobs by 2027, adding that as a ministry, they cannot achieve that alone.

Also speaking, Doris Uzoka-Anite, minister of industry, trade and investment, said a total of 3,100 youths had been trained, far below the estimated target.

She attributed this to a number of reasons, including COVID-19 and the transition process of the immediate past administration.

“Seeing what the head of UNDP has brought in and the commitment of the EU, I am quite optimistic that we’ll do much more,” she added.

(NAN)