Buhari launches job fellowship, says policy consistency put economy on rebound

Buhari launches job fellowship, says policy consistency put economy on rebound

President Muhammadu Buhari in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme on Tuesday launched the Nigeria Jubilee Fellow Programme (NJFP), a fully paid post-NYSC work placement programme for Nigerians.

The programme seeks to connect talented graduates with local job opportunities that apply their expertise while equipping them with world-class practical knowledge and relevant skills.

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According to him, the programme is expected to create new opportunities for 20,000 graduates annually while the beneficiaries will maximise the opportunities presented to them.

Speaking about the rebound of the economy at launch of the programme, he attributed it to policy consistency, innovation and job creation

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Other contributors, the President said, are improvements in agriculture, manufacturing, power and telecommunications, as well as an enhanced transportation sector.

Spokesman Femi Adesina quoted President Buhari  as expressing happiness that some of his policies to contain the effects of COVID-19 on the economy were yielding positive results.

“Tuesday, June 22,  2021, I set-up the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) Steering Committee to coordinate our work to fulfill my promise to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in  10 years.

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“This is building on the positive results from the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and the targeted response to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic with the Economic Sustainability Plan.

Buhari noted that the NJFP, being a fully paid post-NYSC work placement programme, would provide an opportunity for mentors already in industries to provide mentorship and support young Nigerians.

He added: “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.’’

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The President recalled that in 2019, he directed that the number of graduates be increased to one million.

He said: “These graduates are recruited to work in agricultural, health and education institutions across the country. The N-Power programme also has a non-graduate component that provides skills to tens of thousands of Nigerians in areas such as technology, masonry, auto repairs, and carpentry.

“We estimate that about two million people join our labour force annually. We continue to work with our partners to provide more opportunities to create jobs and the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme in partnership with the United Nation’s Development Programme being one of such opportunities.

“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.

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“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.’’

Buhari added that   the programme will build on other efforts of the government to support young Nigerians such as the N75 billion youth fund in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, created to support young Nigerians in business or with business ideas.

“The Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) was our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have set up a survival fund that has helped many businesses stay afloat in the worst economic periods of the last five years. More than one million Nigerians have benefitted from the fund, with more than 500,000 benefitting from the MSMEs Payroll support track, approximately 270,000 beneficiaries of the artisan support track, and about 50,000 beneficiaries of the MSME grant scheme.’’

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The President, who encouraged eligible Nigerians to apply for the jubilee programme, urged private sector organisations to join by providing work placement opportunities, mentors and funding.

The EU Deputy Head of Delegation, Alexandre Borges Gomes and UN Resident Coordinator, Edward Kallon, commended the initiative, saying the programme benefitted from wide consultations.

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