The Federal Government has announced plans to create at least 20,000 new jobs annually through the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0, an upgraded initiative aimed at linking young graduates with practical work experience, mentorship, and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to formally flag off the NJFP 2.0 and open a High-Level Policy Dialogue on Job Creation on Wednesday in Abuja.

The dialogue, themed “From Skills to Jobs and Enterprises: Driving Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship in Key Economic Sectors,” will gather policymakers, private sector leaders, and development partners to discuss actionable strategies for youth empowerment.

Ahead of the launch, Shettima on Monday inaugurated the Project Steering Committee of the NJFP 2.0 at the Presidential Villa. He urged members to ensure that the programme remains inclusive and far-reaching, benefiting young Nigerians across all regions and social groups.

The NJFP, coordinated by the Office of the Vice President in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the European Union (EU), was initially launched in 2022.

It has since empowered over 14,000 Nigerian graduates through 12-month paid fellowships designed to bridge the gap between education and employment.

Shettima described the initiative as a “deliberate attempt to translate Nigeria’s demographic strength into productive economic power.” He noted that by providing structure and partnership, the programme offers young Nigerians a pathway from learning to earning.

“Our young people are not a homogenous group,” the Vice President said. “They live in different realities across regions, genders, and backgrounds. We must ensure that this opportunity reaches every corner of the country and aligns with the sectors that will shape our future—agriculture, digital technology, renewable energy, manufacturing, and the creative industries.”

He emphasized that NJFP 2.0 is fully Nigerian in design and execution, with the goal of sustaining long-term youth employment across key sectors of the economy.

EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, expressed optimism that the new phase would transform lives. “With the continued support of the Nigerian government, this programme will help unlock the potential of thousands of young Nigerians,” he said.

UNDP Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, commended the Federal Government for sustaining the programme, describing NJFP 2.0 as “part of a broader national and continental vision to build a job-creating ecosystem.” She emphasized that the key to unlocking Nigeria’s youth potential lies in investment, innovation, and inclusivity.

Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, revealed that the second phase had been redesigned to address Nigeria’s evolving economic realities and lessons from the first edition. He explained that NJFP 2.0 would deploy 24,000 fellows over the next 10 months with EU funding support.

According to Hadejia, the initiative creates two clear career pathways: employment through extended professional placements and entrepreneurship through mentorship and business development support.

“This is a bold and practical response to the aspirations of young Nigerians,” he said. “Through NJFP 2.0, we’re turning skills into jobs, ideas into enterprises, and hope into real economic outcomes.”

The programme, he added, directly supports President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes job creation, youth empowerment, and skills development as central pillars of Nigeria’s economic transformation strategy.