Connect with us

National News

FG Intensifies Employment Drive, Inaugurates NJFP Steering Committee

Published

on

FG Intensifies Employment Drive, Inaugurates NJFP Steering Committee

*** We must act collectively to tackle unemployment, equip our youths, says VP Shettima

By: Our Reporter

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has inaugurated the Steering Committee of the Nigeria Jubilee Programme (NJFP), as part of measures by the Federal Government to scale up its employment initiative and enhance the employability of fresh graduates with market-ready skills and competence.

NJFP, a Nigerian government initiative being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with a seed investment from the European Union (EU), is coordinated by the office of the Vice President.

It was established to address challenges confronting Nigerian graduates in accessing meaningful jobs, as well as develop, test and deploy a scalable model that would effectively assist in tackling the root causes of growing unemployment and underemployment in Nigeria.

Speaking on Monday while inaugurating the Steering Committee of the NJFP at the Presidential Villa, Vice President Shettima described the programme as a decisive step by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu toward equipping Nigerian youth with the required tools to become employees, innovators and leaders in their chosen careers.

He stated: “The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme is more than just an employment initiative—it is a catalyst for broader engagement in youth-driven innovation, employability, and entrepreneurship. Programmes like this are a decisive step toward equipping our youth with the tools to become not just employees but also innovators and leaders in their respective fields.

“The NJFP has clearly made commendable progress, and it is now time to build on that foundation to provide a wider coverage through innovative adaptations that ensure that this programme does not just provide job placements but also emphasizes the development of key skills through practical, real-world applications.

“This is how we scale impact—by embedding long-lasting, transformative learning experiences into the programme structure”.

Acknowledging that youth unemployment has remained a serious challenge in Nigeria, Senator Shettima implored stakeholders and development partners to act cooperatively to combat the menace before it destabilizes the nation’s future.

“Unemployment remains a critical challenge for Nigeria, and youth unemployment is an even more pressing concern. As a government, we fully recognize the far-reaching consequences that economic downturns have on young people.

His words: “Prolonged periods of unemployment or underemployment can hinder future income potential and significantly diminish career opportunities. This is precisely why today’s gathering is so important.

“We cannot afford to delay; we must act collectively to tackle this issue before it severely undermines our future. It is therefore with a deep sense of responsibility and urgency that I convene this inauguration of the Steering Committee for the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP).”

VP Shettima explained that his office directly coordinates the NJFP and some other crucial federal government initiatives, including Human Capital Development (HCD) programme, Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) and the Expanded MSME Clinics programmes, because they are priorities for the Tinubu administration.

The NJFP, he said, is more vital because Nigeria’s future lies in the hands of the youth, adding that everything must be done within to secure their success.

He continued: “It is imperative that we focus on the long-term sustainability and scalability of the NJFP while further aligning the objectives of the programme with the overarching priorities of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“To guarantee this, we must offer all support to ensure that NJFP is not only sustained but also expanded. We will prioritise the counterpart financing to fulfill the government’s obligation and unlock more funding for the programme.”

Earlier in her remarks, the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, commended the federal government for its “unwavering leadership and commitment to advancing Nigerian human capital development, particularly youth development as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Admitting that “the Vice President’s leadership role on this has been very exemplary,” she recalled that since VP Shettima inaugurated the steering committee of the Human Capital Development programme a few weeks ago, many young Nigerians have been seen breaking barriers, opening up new frontiers based on their talent – not just locally but also on the global stage.

“Young Nigerians are demonstrating to the world that they have the capacity and ingenuity to transform not just their own lives but also those of their communities and Africa at large. Nigeria does not carry last,” she stated.

While thanking the European Union for supporting the programme to the tune of 44 million Euros, Ms. Elsie said the NJFP seeks to champion home-grown talent, connecting young Nigerians with local opportunities through twelve months of placement where they apply their expertise to gain market-ready skills.

On his part, the European Union Head of Cooperation, Mr. Massino de Luca, said the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme is a flagship that generates pride and excitement, not only here in their Abuja office but also in the EU Headquarters.

He maintained that youth involvement and focus remain the ace of the EU’s action in Nigeria, even as he said NJFP typifies the EU’s commitment to the youth agenda in Nigeria and the world.

He said the fundamental aspect of the programme is finance sustainability which the EU has funded with 44 million Euros, adding Nigerians and European businesses have both benefited by the programme and since its inception, it has built strong relationships and partnerships as well as empower thousands of fellows.

Shedding light on the impact of the programme on the Ministry of Youth Development, the Hon. Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, said the NJFP is an initiative which aligns with the ministry’s initiative called the work-experience-programme where graduates are fixed into jobs and there is an opportunity to upscale and improve it with the NJFP programme.

She said her Ministry has the agenda to create 10 million jobs by 2027, adding that as a ministry they cannot achieve that alone.

Also speaking, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, said a total of 3,100 youths have been trained, far below the estimated target, attributing it to a number of reasons, including COVID-19 and the transition process of the immediate past administration.

“But seeing what the head of UNDP has brought in and the commitment of the EU, I am quite optimistic that we’ll do much more,” she added.

FG Intensifies Employment Drive, Inaugurates NJFP Steering Committee

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

National News

NSCC Appoints Yilwatda Its Ambassador

Published

on

NSCC Appoints Yilwatda Its Ambassador

By: Michael Mike

The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) has appointed the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Natawe Goshwe Yilwatda, as its ambassador.

The appointment was made in Jos, Plateau State as part of activities to commemorate the National day of Older persons.

This significant appointment which was on the sidelines of the 6 day medical outreach organized by the Centre in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction recognizes Professor Yilwatda’s unwavering dedication to humanitarian service, poverty alleviation, and the protection of vulnerable populations, particularly senior citizens.

According to a statement, as NSCC Ambassador, Yilwatda will serve as a key advocate for the rights, dignity, and well being of older persons across Nigeria.

The statement read: “His leadership and commitment are expected to drive impactful initiatives that promote healthy, active, and inclusive aging, in alignment with the NSCC’s national mandate.

“The NSCC looks forward to a fruitful partnership with Professor Yilwatda in advancing policies and programmes that uplift and empower the elderly in our communities.”

NSCC Appoints Yilwatda Its Ambassador

Continue Reading

National News

Marwa: NDLEA Open to Controlled Exportation of Cannabis Oil

Published

on

Marwa: NDLEA Open to Controlled Exportation of Cannabis Oil

By: Michael Mike

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said the agency is not averse to the controlled and regulated export of cannabis oil to countries who desire it but remains opposed to its local consumption.

Speaking at a stakeholders workshop themed “Cannabis Oil Debate: The Path Forward for Nigeria”, organized by the Nigerian Academy of Science in Abuja on Wednesday, Marwa said the dialogue on cannabis oil is a welcome development.

He said: “At NDLEA, our position on cannabis oil is simple: we welcome dialogue. We believe Nigeria must make informed choices, not choices driven by half-truths, commercial interests, or global trends. Cannabis oil may have medicinal properties worth investigating, but it also carries health risks, potential for misuse, and implications for public safety. This is why it is crucial that scientists, medical experts, policymakers, and regulators are in the same room to bring facts to the table, scrutinise evidence, and weigh options carefully.

“Let me assure you that NDLEA is not opposed to science, nor are we indifferent to innovation. What we insist on is caution. Policy must protect lives, safeguard public health, and strengthen—not weaken—our fight against drug abuse. As such, the agency will not be averse to the idea of controlled export of cannabis oil to foreign companies and countries who desire it, as part of our drive as a country to enhance foreign earnings. After all, some countries have approved the use of cannabis oil for therapeutic purposes while others including Nigeria have not.

“Our concern however is about its consumption in Nigeria. In essence, we are not opposed to the idea of exporting the oil to those who desire it but such must be strictly controlled, licensed and monitored by NDLEA with such process located only within export free zones.”

Explaining further the position of the agency, the NDLEA boss said the conversation is necessary because “we are talking about Cannabis, which is not just another plant. It is a substance with complex medical, social, and economic dimensions. For decades, the debate has been one-sided. Advocates often highlight the supposed benefits of cannabis oil, while its risks and consequences are glossed over. This, no doubt informs the decision by us at the NDLEA to commission an ongoing study on cannabis oil by this respected apex body of scientists, the Nigerian Academy of Science.”

He added that: “In a country like Nigeria, which is already contending with a high burden of drug abuse, it is imperative that we approach this matter with sobriety, clarity, and balance. Till today, much of the public debate highlights the potential therapeutic uses of cannabis oil and the commercial value of its export. What about the risks? Evidence shows that cannabis, including its oil extracts, can have adverse effects on mental health, especially among young people. The prolonged or uncontrolled use of cannabis and its extracts is linked to anxiety, depression, psychosis, and cognitive impairment. In addition, dependence and addiction are real concerns as well. In reality, these side effects create additional social and economic costs for families, communities and society at large.

“Another fundamental issue that we must take cognisance of is that the lack of standardised production and regulation in many countries means products sold as “cannabis oil” often vary in potency, contain contaminants, or are misused outside of medical supervision. Already, Nigeria has one of the highest rates of misuse of cannabis worldwide. For a country already grappling with 14.4 percent substance abuse prevalence rate as against the global average of 5.6 percent and a staggering figure of 10.6 million cannabis users based on the last drug use survey report of 2018, the risks associated with cannabis cannot be dismissed. Rather, the reality should remind us that while cannabis oil may have medical potential, its dangers are real and must be addressed with strong safeguards before any policy shift is considered”

He said as part of efforts to mitigate the consequences of illicit drug cultivation and production is the decision by the agency, as the first in Africa, to introduce alternative development project in 2023.

According to him, “The Alternative Development Project demands ethical responsibility and commitment to develop transformative policies and humanitarian responses to mitigate drug-related problems and end the complexities and violence of the war on drugs in Nigeria and globally. In Nigeria, the Alternative Development Project will focus on reducing the vulnerabilities of ignorance, poverty, hunger, unemployment and underdevelopment that push people into illicit economies, particularly illicit drug cultivation. Aside from its link to transnational organised crime, illicit drug cultivation fuels national organised crime that causes agricultural states to abandon food crop cultivation for cannabis plantations in some communities across Nigeria. We intend to reduce these vulnerabilities both in urban centres and rural areas through the provision of functional mechanisms and facilities for sensitisation, skills acquisition, empowerment and positive engagements for sustainable livelihoods.”

In his welcome remark, President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof Abubakar Sambo who was represented by the Vice President of NAS, Prof Friday Okonofua noted that several research studies have considered various uses of cannabis and its side effects. He said the workshop was aimed at reaching a consensus on the contentious issue of the use of cannabis oil.

“At the end of the day, we’ll have evidence-based consensus work, which will be properly documented that will lead us to decide what we should be doing regarding the use of cannabis in this country”, he stated.

Chairman of NAS study committee on cannabis oil use, Prof Musbau Akanbi commended NDLEA for being proactive and working with the Academy to obtain science driven guide for Nigeria. “As we all know, cannabis oil is extracted from cannabis and the legalisation of the use of the oil would translate to large-scale cultivation of the weed itself. The Nigerian Academy of Science consequently constitutes the consensus study committee on cannabis oil debate, comprising experts in all fields that had to do with the study request. The committee collected a lot of literature on the subject matter from all over the world, reviewed what is happening in other lands, and decided to arrange this workshop where experts from various related fields will come together with stakeholders and present evidence that will be collated to assist NDLEA in carrying out its honest responsibility.”

Also speaking at the workshop, Dr. Samuel Adekola who represented Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state noted that “this all-important workshop will offer our great country, Nigeria, the opportunity to move from debate to design, from potential to policies and I urge all participants to contribute constructively so that together we can rise to craft a model that not only benefit the consumers of health, also the sunshine state and Nigeria, but also position our nation as a leader on the African continent in this emerging field. Let us proceed with vision, with courage, and with unity of purpose”

In his keynote address, the Director, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health, Neurosciences, and Substance Abuse, University of Ibadan, Prof. Oye Gureje, stated that cumulative evidence suggests that “cannabis has some limited medical use”, and “widespread recreational use is likely to lead to increased risk of psychosis”, while “public health may be moderately affected by increased use (e.g. road accidents)”

Marwa: NDLEA Open to Controlled Exportation of Cannabis Oil

Continue Reading

National News

Zagazola Makama replies U.S. Congressman: Stop weaponising religion to deny Nigeria arms

Published

on

Zagazola Makama replies U.S. Congressman: Stop weaponising religion to deny Nigeria arms

By: Zagazola Makama

Security analyst and counterinsurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, has dismissed as false, baseless, and hypocritical the recent claims by U.S. Congressman Riley M. Moore alleging “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians” in Nigeria.

Makama said the Congressman’s remarks were nothing but an orchestrated attempt to exploit religion as a political weapon, while disguising the real agenda to deny Nigeria access to weapons and military hardware needed to defeat terrorism.

This entire narrative of so-called Christian genocide is not only false but deliberately crafted to cripple Nigeria’s counterterrorism capacity. The same terrorists who attack churches also bomb mosques and kill Muslim villagers. They are not fighting for faith they are fighting against peace,” Makama said.

He noted that Moore’s claim of 7,000 Christians killed in 2025 was not supported by any verifiable evidence or credible international monitoring body, including the United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, or even the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, which maintains real-time intelligence on Nigeria’s security situation.

“If the U.S. Embassy in Abuja with its vast intelligence network has never classified the violence in Nigeria as religious genocide, then where exactly did this Congressman get his statistics from? Certainly not from facts,” he said.

Makama said it was deeply disturbing that individuals in the U.S. Congress could be misled by propaganda designed to portray Nigeria as a country at war with its Christian population, when in fact, victims of insurgency and banditry cut across all religions and ethnicities.

He warned that blocking arms sales to Nigeria under the guise of human rights or religious concerns would directly strengthen the terrorists and make the U.S. Congress complicit in the killings they claim to condemn.

“When you deny Nigeria weapons to fight terror, you are helping the terrorists who get theirs through illegal back channels. That means the so-called human rights defenders in Congress are aiding mass murder by ensuring that innocent civilians remain defenceless,” Makama stated.

He also reminded the U.S. lawmaker that earlier this year, Washington itself admitted that American taxpayer money through USAID had found its way into the hands of terrorist-linked organizations in the Sahel, yet no one has been prosecuted.

“So before pointing fingers at Nigeria, the U.S. should first look inward. Their own agencies have admitted to indirectly funding terrorists, and yet, they continue to lecture other nations about accountability,” he said.

Makama described the Congressman’s statements as a dangerous attempt to sow religious division and mislead the international community into viewing Nigeria through a sectarian lens.

“Nigeria’s security crisis is not a Christian-versus-Muslim war. It is a fight between lawful citizens and violent extremists. Any attempt to twist it into a religious war is dishonest and deeply irresponsible,” he said.

He added that countless soldiers and civilians of both faiths have sacrificed their lives in defence of the country, and their bravery should never be undermined by political actors seeking to weaponise faith for foreign agendas.

“Those who peddle this false narrative are not friends of peace. They are knowingly promoting religious hatred and helping the enemies of Nigeria by trying to cut off its access to essential defence support,” Makama said.

He called on international partners to rely on verified intelligence, credible data, and first-hand reports from reputable organizations rather than politically motivated fabrications designed to damage Nigeria’s reputation.

“If the U.S. truly stands for global peace and religious freedom, it must stop empowering propaganda that fuels division and weakens nations fighting terrorism on the frontlines,” he concluded.

Zagazola Makama replies U.S. Congressman: Stop weaponising religion to deny Nigeria arms

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights