UNDP, CISCO Sign MoU To Strengthen Digital Skills For Young Nigerians

 The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and CISCO have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) to strengthen pathways for young Nigerians to gain future-ready digital skills and access quality employment opportunities.

The MoU signing, held at the UN House in Abuja brought together representatives of the federal government, UNDP, Cisco, the European Union, development partners, NJFP Fellows and Alumni, and other stakeholders to mark an important milestone in public-private collaboration for youth employability and digital skills development in Nigeria.

The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) is a flagship youth employability initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The programme connects young Nigerians to skills, employment and private-sector opportunities, while supporting their transition into the workforce.

UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, stated that the partnership builds on NJFP’s role as a platform for connecting young people’s skills and workplace experience to opportunities in a rapidly changing labour market.

“Together, we can connect skills and experience to livelihoods and turn digital potential into inclusive economic opportunity,” she said.

Ms. Attafuah in a statement noted that the partnership combines Cisco’s technology expertise and industry- relevant learning pathways with UNDP’s development experience, trusted relationships and national employability platform.

She further emphasised that the success of the partnership should ultimately be measured by outcomes for young Nigerians, including their ability to transition from learning into meaningful work, secure sustainable livelihoods and contribute to Nigeria’s digital economy.

Through the partnership, Cisco has provided free access to its Networking Academy (NetAcad) platform for up to 50,000 NJFP Fellows and Alumni on a rolling basis. Facilitated through the Office of the Vice President’s Delivery Unit (OVP-DU), the collaboration brings together government, development and private-sector expertise to strengthen young Nigerians’ access to industry- relevant digital learning, the statement added.

Representing the Office of the Vice President’s Delivery Unit, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Delivery and Coordination, Mr. Akubo Adegbe, highlighted the importance of partnerships that strengthen the connection between young Nigerians, skills development and employment opportunities.

He said, “This partnership also sits within the broader Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly its focus on expanding economic opportunity, creating jobs, strengthening human capital, and enabling Nigerians to participate productively in a changing economy. The ambition is not simply to grow the economy, but to ensure that Nigerians, especially our young people, have the skills, opportunities, and enterprise capabilities to participate in and drive that growth.”

Also speaking during the signing ceremony, Ms Yolanda San Jose, Head, Green and Digital Economy, European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, reaffirmed the European Union’s strong support for the NJFP and its commitment to initiatives that create meaningful opportunities for young Nigerians.

She said, “The European Union under the Global Gateway strategy remains committed to working alongside Nigeria to build a more competitive, greener, more digital and more inclusive economy – one in which young people are not only beneficiaries of development but active drivers of innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable growth.”

Abdelaziz Saidu – General Manager Cisco Nigeria and Ghana, said the programme is a remarkable platform for helping young Nigerian graduates transition from education to meaningful employment through workplace experience, mentorship, leadership development, and skills training. This initiative, he added, reflects a shared commitment to unlocking the immense potential of Nigeria’s youth and preparing them for the future of work.

“Through Cisco Networking Academy, Cisco is contributing world-class digital learning content and training opportunities valued at more than US$52.7 million, reaching 50,000 learners each year over the next three years.

“Cisco Networking Academy has already impacted over one million learners in Nigeria, equipping young people with in-demand skills in networking, cybersecurity, software development, data analytics, and emerging technologies that employers increasingly require,” he added

The event also provided an opportunity to reflect on the evolution of NJFP and its growing role as a talent pipeline connecting young Nigerians to skills, employment and private-sector opportunities.

The UNDP–Cisco partnership strengthens this pathway by complementing workplace experience with industry-led digital learning. Through Cisco Networking Academy, participating Fellows and Alumni can access learning opportunities in areas relevant to the changing world of work, including technology and digital skills.

 The event featured experiences from NJFP Fellows and Alumni participating in Cisco’s learning programmes, highlighting how access to digital learning can support young Nigerians in building their professional capabilities and preparing for future career opportunities.