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FG Targets 20,000 Jobs Annually As VP Shettima Flags Off NJFP 2.0, Policy Dialogue
FG Targets 20,000 Jobs Annually As VP Shettima Flags Off NJFP 2.0, Policy Dialogue
By: Our Reporter
Inaugurates project steering committee, tasks members on inclusivity, tangible outcomes
The Federal Government of Nigeria is targeting the creation of at least 20,000 jobs annually through the launch of the second phase of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) aimed at connecting high-potential graduates with real-world work experience, training, and mentorship.

And to spearhead the initiative in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, will on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, in Abuja, flag off the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0 and declare open a High-Level Policy Dialogue on Job Creation with the theme, “From Skills to Jobs and Enterprises: Driving Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship in Key Economic Sectors.”
Ahead of the flag-off, the Vice President, on Monday inaugurated the Project Steering Committee of the NJFP 2.0, with a charge to members to make sure the programme is inclusive, ensuring that the opportunity reaches every part of the country.

The NJFP, a flagship initiative of the Federal Government being coordinated by the Office of the Vice President, is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and funded by the European Union (EU).
Launched in 2022 to bridge the gap between skills, jobs, and enterprise, the programme has already empowered over 14,000 young Nigerians through the 12-month paid fellowships that build experience, confidence, and lasting career opportunities.
Inaugurating the Project Steering Committee, Senator Shettima noted that the goal of the NJFP is to bridge the transition gap between learning and earning for thousands of young graduates with the required education but no job opportunity.

The programme, he said, represents “a deliberate attempt to translate the nation’s demographic strength into productive economic power, demonstrating that when government provides structure, partnership, and purpose, young Nigerians rise to the occasion.”
Maintaining that the NJFP is a Nigerian programme, shaped by national priorities and the nation’s sense of purpose, the VP told members of the committee “to deepen that ownership, strengthen coordination across our institutions, and ensure that NJFP remains accountable to the ambitions of this administration.”
Imploring the committee to work towards tangible outcomes and ensure inclusivity, VP Shettima said, “As we deliberate today, I encourage us to think not in terms of targets or figures alone, but in terms of outcomes that matter; young people whose lives change because this system works as intended.
“We have an opportunity here to demonstrate what partnership done right can achieve: where government leads with clarity, partners contribute with confidence, and results speak for themselves. Therefore, let us approach our work with that understanding.
“In scaling NJFP 2.0, inclusivity must remain at the heart of our design. Our young people are not a homogenous group; they live in different realities across regions, genders, and social backgrounds. We must ensure that this opportunity reaches every corner of the country — and that placements are tied to the sectors that will shape Nigeria’s future: agriculture, digital technology, renewable energy, manufacturing, and the creative industries.”
On his part, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, expressed confidence that the programme would transform the lives of young Nigerians, saying the support of the Nigerian government will optimize the full mandate of the NJFP 2.0.
Also, the UNDP Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, described the NJFP 2.0 as a part of a larger national and continental vision which the UNDP is proud to support, noting that the target is to work across Nigeria to build an ecosystem that creates jobs.
She applauded Vice President Shettima for spearheading the initiative, saying what young Nigerians need is investment opportunities and an enabling ecosystem to make use of their skills and expertise.
Earlier, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, said following the flag-off of the NJFP 2.0 on Wednesday, “the Vice President will also declare open the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Job Creation, themed: “From Skills to Jobs and Enterprises: Driving Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship in Key Economic Sectors.”
Speaking during a press conference at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, ahead of the event scheduled to take place at the old banquet hall of the Presidential Villa, Senator Hadejia said the dialogue will bring together Federal and State policymakers, private sector leaders, and development partners to discuss actionable strategies for expanding employment, supporting enterprise growth, and aligning youth skills with national priorities.”
He explained that building on the success of the NJFP, the second phase, NJFP 2.0, has been redesigned to respond to current economic realities and lessons learned from the first phase.
The target, he said, is to “put structures in place to sustain the deployment of at least 20,000 fellows annually”.
He explained that the new phase of the initiative, NJFP 2.0, which “will place a minimum of 24,000 fellows over the next 10 months, with the funding support of the EU,” directly “supports the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which prioritizes job creation, skills development, and youth empowerment as key pillars of Nigeria’s economic transformation.
“It shows that this administration is not only focused on policy — it is focused on impact. Through NJFP 2.0, we are demonstrating how government programmes can translate into real opportunities for decent work and enterprise creation for young Nigerians,” he added.
Shedding more light on the NJFP 2.0, Senator Hadejia explained that with the new phase, the Federal Government plans to create two clear pathways for every fellow namely “a pathway to employment, through extended professional placements, and a pathway to entrepreneurship, through business mentorship and enterprise support.”
The idea, according to him, is to ensure that “every fellow is empowered to either secure meaningful employment or launch a viable business in strategic sectors of the economy at the end of the fellowship.”
Hadejia observed that under the Tinubu administration, the NJFP is “a bold and practical response to the aspirations of young Nigerians – a generation of problem-solvers and innovators who only need opportunity to thrive.
“The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme is one of several opportunities created by the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR)— a platform to turn skills into jobs, ideas into enterprises, and hope into results,” he further stated.
FG Targets 20,000 Jobs Annually As VP Shettima Flags Off NJFP 2.0, Policy Dialogue
News
Violent clash in Sabon-Titi area of Tunga Minna leaves one dead, several arrested
Violent clash in Sabon-Titi area of Tunga Minna leaves one dead, several arrested
By: Zagazola Makama
A violent confrontation among rival youths in Sabon-Titi area of Tunga, Minna, Niger State, resulted in the death of one person and the arrest of several others, security sources confirmed on Saturday.
According to sources, on Friday at about 8:00 p.m., a group of youths armed with dangerous weapons were sighted causing havoc along David Mark Road. Security operatives quickly intervened and dispersed the group.
However, at about 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, the same group engaged in a violent clash among themselves using matchets and daggers. Twelve suspects, including Ibrahim Musa, Abbah Hussaini, Babangida Gambo, and Abubakar Bala, were arrested, by the police and their weapons recovered.
Later at about 8:30 a.m., Bello Mohammed of Farm Centre, Tunga Minna, was found lying in a pool of blood. He was rushed to General Hospital Minna but was confirmed dead on arrival.
Sources said that preliminary investigations indicate that the deceased was among the suspected thugs terrorizing residents in the area.
Violent clash in Sabon-Titi area of Tunga Minna leaves one dead, several arrested
News
Young fulani man killed, six cows poisoned in separate farmland incidents in Plateau state
Young fulani man killed, six cows poisoned in separate farmland incidents in Plateau state
By: Zagazola Makama
A 25-year-old Fulani man, Yakubu Salisu of Tenti village, Bokkos Local Government Area, was killed in a violent attack, while six cows were poisoned in a separate incident in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State on Saturday, authorities confirmed.
According to sources , Salisu was stabbed at the back by yet-to-be-identified assailants suspected to be locals of Bokkos. He died instantly at the scene.
Before the attack, a farmer, Josiah Joshua, 28, said he reportedly confronted six herders rearing cows on his farm. According to him, herders allegedly refused to remove the animals and attacked Joshua, resulting in injuries.
In retaliation, Joshua mobilized his friends to attack Yakubu Salisu, stabbing him multiple times on his before and killing him instantly.
Local leaders told Zagazola that the claims by some parties suggesting the Fulani victims “invaded farmlands” are false and appear to be an attempt to justify the attacks. Investigations indicate both incidents were unprovoked and targeted.
The police, however stormed the scene, photographed the corps and later released to relatives for burial according to Islamic rites, as the family declined an autopsy. The Authorities said they have commenced investigation, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, in Riyom LGA, six cows were poisoned in Kwi village without any apparent provocation.
Authorities have commenced investigations into both incidents, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators.
Security officials warned residents to remain vigilant and urged communities to avoid taking the law into their own hands.
These incidents illustrate the rising tensions in Plateau State, drawing attention to the need for swift intervention to prevent escalation of communal violence over farmland disputes.
Young fulani man killed, six cows poisoned in separate farmland incidents in Plateau state
News
Silent Changes, Big Impact: Adeola Ajayi’s Transformation of the DSS
Silent Changes, Big Impact: Adeola Ajayi’s Transformation of the DSS
By: Sunday Oladapo
Leadership in the security sector often reveals itself not through grand speeches or public displays of authority, but through quiet, deliberate decisions that gradually shift systems, culture, and outcomes. Adeola Ajayi’s stewardship of the Department of State Services (DSS) exemplifies this subtle but powerful form of leadership. Though he rarely seeks the spotlight, the changes unfolding under his watch are reshaping the DSS in ways that many insiders describe as the most meaningful transformation the agency has witnessed in years.
From the moment Ajayi assumed office, it was clear he was bringing a different kind of energy—one rooted in discipline, modernization, and strategic silence. Instead of sweeping pronouncements, he focused on strengthening the agency’s foundation: its people, processes, and purpose. And this approach, though understated, is now yielding visible dividends.
Reinvigorating Professionalism and Intelligence Capacity
One of Ajayi’s most significant achievements is the recalibration of the DSS’s intelligence framework. Recognizing that modern threats—from terrorism to cybercrime—require an intelligence service that is both proactive and technologically sophisticated, he initiated targeted reforms to upgrade analytical tools, digital surveillance capacity, and field operations coordination.
Training programs have also been revitalized. Officers are now exposed to global best practices in intelligence gathering, behavioral analysis, cybersecurity, and inter-agency communication. The goal is simple but transformative: build a DSS that can prevent threats before they materialize, rather than merely responding after damage has been done.
Ajayi’s emphasis on data-driven intelligence has contributed to more efficient threat assessment, improved crisis response, and a more agile internal structure that encourages innovation instead of outdated, rigid protocols.
Strengthening Inter-Agency Collaboration
A common weakness in Nigeria’s security architecture has been fragmentation—agencies working in silos, often competing rather than collaborating. Ajayi has worked quietly but effectively to change this dynamic. His leadership has fostered smoother cooperation between the DSS, the police, the military, and other national security institutions.
By prioritizing information-sharing, joint operations, and coordinated strategy development, Ajayi has positioned the DSS as a core driver of national security synergy. This shift may not be flashy, but its impact on operational success is already becoming evident.
Humanizing the Service and Rebuilding Public Trust
For many years, perceptions of the DSS fluctuated between respect and apprehension, largely due to concerns over transparency and human-rights practices. Ajayi has taken deliberate steps to address this by promoting a more professional, rights-conscious operational culture. Officers now undergo enhanced training on ethical conduct, community engagement, and communication.
While the DSS is not—and cannot be—a public-relations-driven institution, Ajayi understands that a modern security service must maintain a level of trust with the citizens it protects. His reforms are gradually helping to redefine the agency’s public interface, balancing its mandate for secrecy with an improved commitment to professionalism and accountability.
Internal Welfare and Institutional Stability
Security agencies perform best when their personnel feel valued, motivated, and well-equipped. Ajayi has strengthened internal welfare systems, ensuring officers receive improved support, clearer career growth opportunities, and the tools they need to perform effectively. This has boosted morale and reduced internal friction—two factors crucial for operational efficiency.
His quiet stabilizing influence has also brought a sense of predictability to DSS operations. Under his leadership, the agency appears more insulated from political turbulence, allowing it to focus squarely on its mandate.
A Leadership Style Rooted in Strategy, Not Spectacle
In a time when some leaders rely on bravado or theatrics to appear effective, Ajayi stands out for his disciplined restraint. His philosophy seems guided by a fundamental principle: a security agency’s success is measured in outcomes, not headlines. The calmness of his leadership style has enabled him to pursue reforms without unnecessary noise, distractions, or politicization.
And this may be the true hallmark of his impact—delivering change through consistency rather than controversy.
Looking Ahead: A Long-Term Blueprint for the DSS
If the momentum of Ajayi’s reforms is sustained, the DSS could emerge as a more modern, reliable, and globally respected intelligence service. His agenda sets a foundation for:
A culture of professionalism over patronage
A stronger intelligence-driven approach to national security
A more integrated and collaborative security environment
A service that balances secrecy with lawful, ethical conduct
A stable institution that prioritizes national interest above all else
His leadership demonstrates that meaningful reform does not always come with fanfare. Sometimes, it comes quietly—through silent changes that produce big, enduring impact.
In transforming the DSS with such strategic subtlety, Adeola Ajayi is not only redefining the institution but also showing that a new era of thoughtful, modern security leadership is both possible and already taking shape.
Sunday Oladapo is a public analysts from Abuja
Silent Changes, Big Impact: Adeola Ajayi’s Transformation of the DSS
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