Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, represented by Akubo Adegbe, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Delivery and Coordination, Office of the Vice President; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); and other stakeholders convened to discuss and address the growing challenges of unemployment and underemployment in Nigeria. The discussions took place at the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0 Employers’ Forum held in Lagos, where leading private sector organizations, government representatives, and development partners gathered to renew commitments to strengthening Nigeria’s workforce pipeline and accelerating youth employment.
Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme Overview
The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) is a Federal Government initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by the UNDP. The forum served as a platform to mobilize support for youth employment and foster collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Remarks
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mrs. Boladele Dapo-Thomas, Chairman of the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, highlighted the government’s commitment to youth employment and private-sector collaboration. He commended the European Union for its sustained funding and commitment to Nigeria’s socio-economic transformation. “I commend the European Union for its sustained funding and its commitment to Nigeria’s socio-economic transformation. I equally commend UNDP Nigeria for the excellence of its implementation and applaud every employer in this forum today. Your presence here is not ceremonial; it is an act of patriotism. By hosting fellows, offering mentorship, and opening your organizations to Nigeria’s graduates, you are making a direct investment in the human capital that will power this nation’s next chapter,” he said.
European Union’s Support
Inga Stefanowicz, Head of Section for Green and Digital Economy at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, reaffirmed the EU’s support for Nigeria’s workforce development efforts. She expressed delight in supporting initiatives that deliver tangible results for youths and businesses. “The European Union is proud to support initiatives like NJFP that deliver tangible results for young people and for businesses. By equipping graduates with relevant skills and connecting them to real workplace opportunities, we are not only addressing unemployment but also strengthening the foundations for sustainable economic growth,” she stated.
UNDP’s Perspective
UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, emphasized the importance of sustained partnerships in driving inclusive economic growth. She noted that the presence of associations, financial institutions, technology firms, manufacturers, agribusinesses, and innovation ecosystem actors sends a strong signal that workforce transformation is increasingly recognized as a shared national responsibility and a shared economic opportunity. “This Employers’ Forum is therefore important not only because of the commitments it seeks to mobilize for NJFP placements but because it represents a broader platform for strengthening long-term partnership between talent development, enterprise growth, and economic transformation in Nigeria. The participation of major employers, MSMEs, industry associations, financial institutions, technology firms, manufacturers, agribusinesses, and innovation ecosystem actors here today sends a strong signal that workforce transformation is increasingly being recognized as a shared national responsibility and a shared economic opportunity,” she said.
