Employers, UNDP Partner To Boost Graduate Employability

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to launch the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0, a renewed initiative aimed at tackling youth unemployment and strengthening the link between education and industry.

According to NECA’s Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, the partnership follows a recent strategy meeting between the UNDP–NJFP team and NECA, during which both parties agreed on key actions to ensure the success of the new phase. The programme will be fully handed over to the Federal Government in 2027 for continued implementation.

The NJFP, a flagship initiative of the Federal Government supported by the European Union, was designed to bridge the gap between young graduates and the labour market. It offers 12-month, fully paid work placements across private, public, development, and non-governmental sectors. Each fellow receives a ₦150,000 monthly stipend, mentorship, and training to enhance workplace readiness.

While the first phase, NJFP 1.0, achieved notable progress, it faced challenges in achieving large-scale and sustainable impact. The redesigned NJFP 2.0 seeks to deliver stronger outcomes through deeper private sector engagement and clearer pathways for long-term employability.

Oyerinde noted that NECA will play a central role in connecting employers with the growing pool of trained fellows by co-leading a Job Fair scheduled to hold as a side event during the programme’s launch. The fair will bring together major sector employers to interact with fellows and explore placement opportunities.

He said NECA aims to facilitate the recruitment and placement of 20,000 fellows by leveraging its extensive network to secure industry participation and advising the NJFP team on aligning training with sector-specific skills demands.

Oyerinde added that NECA will also provide insights into future skills and labour trends, ensuring fellows remain relevant in Nigeria’s evolving world of work. The association will support the programme by generating data on industry skill needs, driving policy advocacy, and promoting a sustainable, industry-driven training framework.