FG Reinforces Youth Empowerment with Jubilee Fellows Rollout

The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched the second phase of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP), aiming to generate at least 20,000 jobs annually for young Nigerians. The official launch is scheduled for October 22, 2025, in Abuja and will feature a high-level policy dialogue on youth employment and entrepreneurship.

The program, first introduced in August 2021, targets recent graduates to provide hands-on work experience and enhance employability in the competitive job market. Supported by a €44 million pledge from the European Union in 2022, NJFP has already facilitated 12-month paid internships for over 14,000 participants in both public and private sectors.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who inaugurated the project steering committee ahead of the launch, stressed the importance of inclusivity and nationwide reach. The program complements other government initiatives such as the Local Enterprise and Employment Programme (LEEP), which aims to create 2.5 million jobs over two years, and the National Job Centre Project, a network of employability hubs providing digital job matching and career advisory services.

In partnership with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the government is also facilitating free business name registrations for youths, aiming to formalize 250,000 enterprises and inject N6 billion into the economy. Through these initiatives, the government hopes to bridge the gap between academic qualifications and practical work experience, fostering sustainable employment and entrepreneurship among Nigerian youth.