The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme is looking to expand its roster of participating organizations as it prepares for a second implementation phase. Launched through a partnership involving the Federal Government, UNDP, and EU support, the programme places young Nigerian graduates in 12-month work experiences with organizations willing to provide mentorship and practical training.
The model is relatively straightforward: organizations register and specify what roles or skills they need, fellows apply and go through screening, and successful matches result in year-long placements. The programme handles most of the administrative work—screening, documentation, ongoing support—while host organizations provide the actual workplace and supervision.
So far, the initiative has placed thousands of fellows across various sectors and states. Some organizations have converted fellows into permanent staff; others have used the programme to access talent they couldn’t otherwise afford or attract through conventional hiring.
For its next phase, programme organizers say they’re refining the matching process and working to ensure placements deliver meaningful value to both sides. The goal is fewer mismatches and more outcomes that benefit fellows’ career development and hosts’ operational needs.
Eligibility to participate is broad. Any registered organization: business, government agency, or NGO, can apply if it has the capacity to supervise a fellow and can provide proper documentation (CAC registration, TIN, basic organizational details). There’s no participation fee.
The registration process happens online at www.njfp.ng. Organizations fill out a profile, submit required documents, and indicate what kind of support they need.
Once approved, they become part of the pool from which fellows select or are matched to placements.
For smaller organizations, particularly those outside major commercial centers, the programme offers access to graduate-level talent that might not otherwise consider positions with them. For larger institutions, it provides a structured way to test potential hires and contribute to addressing the country’s persistent youth unemployment challenge.
The programme isn’t a silver bullet for Nigeria’s complex employment situation, but it does create a formal pathway where one barely existed before—giving graduates a foot in the door and giving organizations a low-risk way to expand capacity.
