Jobberman and Mastercard Foundation Expand Paid Internship Programme to Benefit 3,650 Youth Across West Africa
Jobberman Nigeria, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has officially launched the second phase of its Associates Programme, a strategic initiative designed to combat youth unemployment and underemployment throughout West Africa. This ambitious programme will provide paid internships and comprehensive career support to 3,650 young professionals across five nations in the region.
Bridging the Gap Between Skills and Employment
Speaking at an employer onboarding event in Lagos, Olamide Adeyeye, the Country Head of Programmes at Jobberman Nigeria, detailed the programme's evolution. He explained that while previous efforts successfully equipped youth with digital skills, a significant disconnect remained between training and practical workplace experience.
"This programme connects skilling with earning by giving young talent the opportunity to enter the workforce through paid internships," Adeyeye stated. The current 12-month programme is specifically crafted to bridge this critical gap, combining skills development with real-world, paid work placements to facilitate a smoother transition into the formal labour market for participants aged 18 to 34.
A Focus on Inclusion and Regional Expansion
The second phase marks a substantial expansion, building on the success of the initial pilot. The first phase supported 375 participants, with over 68% securing meaningful employment upon completion. The new phase aims to scale this impact significantly.
"We are expanding into five West African countries: Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia," Adeyeye announced. "The objective is to support 3,650 young people, with 70 per cent being women, five per cent persons with disabilities, and five per cent internally displaced persons, to gain valuable experience through internships and transition into dignified, fulfilling work."
Dual Benefit: Empowering Youth and Supporting Businesses
The programme delivers a dual benefit. While primarily empowering young professionals, it also provides crucial support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). By offering businesses access to pre-vetted, skilled talent through the internship placements, the initiative helps companies strengthen their talent pipelines and ease recruitment pressures without incurring significant additional labour costs.
Toluwani Aina, Programme Coordinator for the Mastercard Foundation Associates Programme, emphasized the initiative's role in addressing the challenges young people face when moving from education to employment. She highlighted the programme's inclusive approach and encouraged more organisations to participate by hosting associates, noting it as a strategic investment in future talent.
This expanded partnership between Jobberman and the Mastercard Foundation represents a major step forward in tackling youth unemployment through practical, paid work experience, with a strong commitment to gender equality and the inclusion of vulnerable groups across West Africa.
