…..Initiative targets 150,000 learners over a 3-year period

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and global technology company Cisco have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand digital skills training and employment opportunities for young Nigerians under the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP).

The partnership, facilitated by the Office of the Vice President’s Delivery Unit with support from the European Union (EU), is projected to deliver more than $50 million in in-kind student support over three years, with Cisco anticipating 50,000 unique students annually over the period.

The initiative is designed to bridge the gap between academic qualifications and the skills increasingly demanded by employers, while strengthening pathways to employment, entrepreneurship and participation in Nigeria’s growing digital economy.

Speaking at the signing ceremony on Friday in Abuja,Senior Special Assistant to the President on Delivery and Coordination, Akubo Adegbe, said the collaboration would expand the value of the NJFP by connecting young Nigerians not only to workplace experience but also to globally recognised digital skills and professional opportunities.

Adegbe stated that the partnership reflected a shift towards equipping young people with the practical capabilities required to take advantage of emerging economic opportunities.

He said, “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,” .

Adegbe highlighted the importance of
partnerships that strengthen the connection between young Nigerians, skills development and employment opportunities.

Adegbe explained that through the Cisco Networking Academy, fellows and alumni will gain access to learning opportunities in cybersecurity, networking, data analytics, data science, artificial intelligence, programming, IT support and entrepreneurship.

He noted that the skills would be relevant across critical sectors, including financial services, telecommunications, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, education and public administration, as Nigeria accelerates its digital transformation.

Adegbe added that the partnership aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on job creation, human capital development and expanding economic opportunities.

He observed that the initiative also highlights the growing role of private-sector participation in workforce development and urged companies, foundations, development partners and other institutions to contribute funding, technology, mentorship, training, internships and employment opportunities through the NJFP platform.

According to him, Cisco’s projected contribution demonstrates how private-sector expertise and learning infrastructure can complement government policy and development financing to expand opportunities for young Nigerians.

The new collaboration with Cisco is expected to deepen that objective by providing participants with additional skills that can improve their competitiveness in Nigeria and the global labour market.

Adegbe said the broader ambition was to build a national platform that brings government, development partners and the private sector together to develop the workforce needed for Nigeria’s economic transformation.

“Our ambition is not simply to prepare young Nigerians for the future of work. It is to prepare Nigeria for the future of its US$1 trillion economy,” he added.
Also speaking, Head, Green and Digital
Economy, European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Yolanda San Jose observed that the EU has invested approximately €44 million in the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s workforce and promoting inclusive economic growth.

Jose noted that the collaboration illustrated how development assistance could attract additional private-sector investment and generate impact beyond the initial intervention.

She stressed that the long-term success of the initiative would depend on sustained government leadership, deeper private-sector engagement and continued investment in Nigerian talent.

UNDP Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, said the partnership would strengthen the transition from learning to earning by combining practical workplace experience with industry-relevant digital training.

Attafuah disclosed that nearly 35,000 fellows had been placed with more than 11,000 host organisations across Nigeria through the NJFP, which provides graduates with paid, 12-month work placements.

She said the next priority was to help participants move from fellowship placements into sustained employment, professional advancement and enterprise creation.

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.

Attafuah also called for inclusive access, stressing that young women, persons with disabilities and young people in underserved communities should have fair opportunities to benefit from digital learning.

She urged employers, state governments and development partners to expand mentorship, practical assignments and connections to jobs and enterprise.

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.
The NJFP, implemented by UNDP in cooperation with the Federal Government, seeks to strengthen the connection between education and employment while helping young graduates acquire practical experience.