FG Moves to Close School-Workplace Gap Through NJFP
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to bridging the gap between education and employment through the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP). It described the initiative as a strategic intervention aimed at improving graduate employability and creating sustainable opportunities for young Nigerians. The government made the commitment on Thursday at the NJFP 2.0 […]
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to bridging the gap between education and employment through the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP).
It described the initiative as a strategic intervention aimed at improving graduate employability and creating sustainable opportunities for young Nigerians.
The government made the commitment on Thursday at the NJFP 2.0 Abuja Job Fair, where employers, development partners, government officials and young professionals gathered to facilitate job placements and strengthen workforce integration.
Speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Delivery and Coordination, Mr. Akubo Adegbe, said the programme was deliberately designed to address one of Nigeria’s longstanding labour market challenges—the transition from school to the workplace.
He stated: “The NJFP has been designed to address a fundamental problem that we have as a nation – the bridge between school and the workplace.
“Government remains committed to this programme to ensure that beyond the funding that is being provided by the European Union, it is sustainable because we must continue to bridge the gap between school and the workplace and ensure we create opportunities for our young people.”
The Abuja Job Fair, themed: “Building a National Workforce for the Future”, brought together host organisations and NJFP fellows in a placement-focused talent marketplace aimed at accelerating recruitment and strengthening workforce readiness.
The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme is an initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria, funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The programme seeks to tackle youth unemployment and underemployment by connecting graduates with structured workplace opportunities that provide practical experience, mentoring, coaching and skills development.
Nigeria faces mounting labour market pressures, with more than 600,000 graduates entering the workforce annually, even as employers continue to report gaps in workplace readiness and practical experience among job seekers.
Representing the UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, the organisation’s Senior Economics Adviser, Mr. Tony Muhumuza, called on employers to become active partners in developing the country’s future workforce.
“This is not just a placement drive; we are building Nigeria’s workforce,” Muhumuza said.
“This event is a Talent Marketplace where employers meet vetted, work-ready fellows across key sectors and convert interest into interviews, shortlists, and signed placements before they leave the room.
“Over two days we aim to engage up to 500 Host Organisations and move up to 1,300 fellows into active placement.”
Also speaking, Head of the Inclusive Growth Unit at UNDP Nigeria and NJFP Programme Lead, Ms. Clare Henshaw, stressed the importance of ensuring that fellows receive adequate support throughout the programme.
“The expectation is that at the end of this event, all Fellows can secure jobs,” she said.
“Today we are providing the information that employers need to enable them take care of Fellows during the fellowship period to ensure they are well-guided, coached, and mentored to be the workforce that Nigeria needs,” she added.
The fair featured employer orientation sessions, workforce briefings, sector-based talent showcases, direct interview sessions and structured matching opportunities spanning technology, education, healthcare, agriculture, engineering, energy, public health, government services and the creative industries.
Participating employers conducted interviews, explored placement opportunities and identified candidates whose skills aligned with their workforce needs.
The organisers said the event forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s workforce ecosystem through a demand-driven approach to graduate employment, while supporting inclusive economic growth and faster transitions into productive careers for young Nigerians.
With youth accounting for a significant share of Nigeria’s population and unemployment remaining a major socio-economic challenge, stakeholders at the event said initiatives such as the NJFP will play an increasingly important role in preparing graduates for the realities of the modern workplace and supporting national development objectives.