Post-NYSC scheme called Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme launched for young graduates

NIGERIA'S federal government has announced the creation of a Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme aimed at employing 20,000 graduates annually who recently concluded the mandatory one-year National Youth Service (NYSC).

Thought up as part of a plan to address the chronic problem of youth unemployment in the country, the programme, the scheme will also provide an opportunity for mentors who are already engaged in various industries. This will involve them gaining relevant experience and building capacity over the years to provide mentorship and support for young Nigerians.

President Muhammadu Buhari said: “Beyond the skills and work experience, we will be building a new culture of mentorship and guidance that can chart a new course for skills development and work experience in our country. We believe that as this programme creates new opportunities for 20,000 recent graduates annually, the beneficiaries will use the opportunities presented to them and maximize their 12 months of engagement.”

He added that the jubilee programme will provide a pathway for young Nigerians to gain work experience in top tier organisations, gaining relevant skills and building the right networks for the future in various sectors including information and communications technology, financial services, trade, manufacturing, agriculture and agro-processing. In addition, the president said the programme will build on other efforts of the government to support young Nigerians such as the N75bn youth fund in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, which was created to support young Nigerians in business or with business ideas, with N25bn released annually for three years.

President Buhari added: “Other sectors include mining, telecommunications, creative industries and technology, education, health, research and development, and public sector institutions. We believe that building the right skills and experiences across these sectors are important to sustain the economic growth we are experiencing.’’

He encouraged all eligible Nigerians to apply for the jubilee programme and urged private sector organizations to join by providing work placement opportunities, mentors and funding. “I would like to say thank you to the United Nations Development Programme and the European Union for their support on this vital initiative and I hereby declare the program open,"  he added.