The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has partnered with global technology company Cisco to equip up to 50,000 young Nigerians with digital skills through the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP).
The partnership, facilitated through the Office of the Vice President’s Delivery Unit, will provide participating fellows and alumni with free access to Cisco’s Networking Academy platform, offering industry-relevant training to improve their employability and prepare them for opportunities in the evolving digital economy.
The initiative is designed to complement the programme’s existing workplace learning opportunities by providing training in areas such as networking, cybersecurity, data analytics, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship.
Speaking at the partnership signing ceremony, UNDP Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, said access to relevant skills, mentorship and professional opportunities could significantly improve the prospects of young Nigerians.
According to her, a young person’s first employment opportunity can transform their life while strengthening businesses, improving public services and creating opportunities for others.
“Across Nigeria, young people have talent, ambition and ideas. Yet limited experience, access to relevant skills and connections to employers can constrain their prospects,” Attafuah said.
She stressed the need to strengthen the transition from education to employment and ensure that young Nigerians acquire the capabilities required to secure sustainable livelihoods.
Attafuah acknowledged the contributions of the Federal Government, the European Union (EU), state governments, host organisations, mentors and other partners in advancing the objectives of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme.
She also commended the Office of the Vice President’s Delivery Unit for facilitating the collaboration and Cisco for providing its technical expertise and digital learning resources.
According to her, the NJFP has already provided a foundation for youth employability through paid, 12-month workplace placements across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
She disclosed that nearly 35,000 fellows had been placed with more than 11,000 host organisations.
However, she noted that the next priority was to strengthen the transition from fellowship placements to sustainable employment, professional advancement and entrepreneurship.
Attafuah explained that Cisco Networking Academy would complement the fellows’ practical workplace experience with digital learning opportunities relevant to the changing world of work.
She expressed optimism that the initiative would help participants develop the confidence and technical expertise needed to contribute to businesses, public institutions and the wider economy.
Partnership to Support Nigeria’s Economic Growth
Representing the Office of the Vice President’s Delivery Unit, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Delivery and Coordination, Akubo Adegbe, described the partnership as an important step towards strengthening the connection between skills development and employment opportunities for young Nigerians.
He said the initiative aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on job creation, human capital development, economic opportunities and productive participation in a changing economy.
Adegbe said Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy must go beyond expanding economic output to ensuring that citizens, particularly young people, possess the skills and entrepreneurial capabilities needed to drive that growth.
He emphasised the importance of equipping young Nigerians to participate meaningfully in the country’s digital transformation and economic development.
EU Invests €44 Million in Youth Employability Programme
Also speaking at the event, Yolanda San Jose, Head of Green and Digital Economy at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme.
San Jose disclosed that the European Union had invested €44 million in the programme under its Global Gateway strategy.
She said the investment reflected the EU’s commitment to working with Nigeria to build a competitive, greener, more digital and inclusive economy.
According to her, young people should not only benefit from development initiatives but also play active roles in driving innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable economic growth.
She welcomed the partnership with Cisco, noting that expanding access to digital skills would help prepare young Nigerians for emerging employment opportunities.
Cisco Reaffirms Commitment to Digital Skills Development
In his remarks, Cisco Managing Director, Abdelaziz Saidu, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to investing in young people through digital skills development.
Saidu said Cisco had spent more than four decades providing technology solutions that help organisations connect, protect their operations and innovate.
He explained that the company’s artificial intelligence-powered solutions and services were designed to help customers, partners and communities improve productivity, strengthen digital resilience and unlock new opportunities.
He added that Cisco remained committed to promoting a more connected and inclusive future by expanding access to technology and digital learning.
Through its Networking Academy platform, the company is providing participating NJFP fellows and alumni with access to courses designed to strengthen their technical capabilities and improve their readiness for the digital workplace.
About the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme
The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme is a flagship youth employability initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria, funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme.
The programme connects young Nigerian graduates with structured, paid, 12-month workplace placements across the public, private and development sectors.
It aims to improve youth employability by helping graduates gain practical work experience, develop professional skills and establish connections with potential employers.
Under the new partnership, Cisco is providing free access to its Networking Academy platform for up to 50,000 fellows and alumni on a rolling basis.
The collaboration brings together government, development partners and the private sector to expand access to digital education and improve employment prospects for young Nigerians.
With digital technologies increasingly shaping the global economy, the partnership is expected to strengthen the skills pipeline for Nigeria’s emerging workforce and support efforts to create a more competitive and digitally capable economy.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
