The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and global technology company Cisco have partnered to expand digital skills training and employment opportunities for young Nigerians under the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP). The partnership, facilitated by the Office of the Vice President’s Delivery Unit with support from the European Union (EU), aims to deliver over $50 million in in-kind student support over three years. Cisco anticipates reaching 50,000 unique students annually during this period.
The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between academic qualifications and the skills demanded by employers, strengthening pathways to employment, entrepreneurship, and participation in Nigeria’s growing digital economy. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Delivery and Coordination, Akubo Adegbe, emphasized that the collaboration will connect young Nigerians to workplace experience and globally recognized digital skills and professional opportunities. This partnership reflects a shift towards equipping young people with practical capabilities required to take advantage of emerging economic opportunities.
Through the Cisco Networking Academy, fellows and alumni will gain access to learning opportunities in cybersecurity, networking, data analytics, data science, artificial intelligence, programming, IT support, and entrepreneurship. These skills will be relevant across critical sectors, including financial services, telecommunications, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, education, and public administration, as Nigeria accelerates its digital transformation. The partnership aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on job creation, human capital development, and expanding economic opportunities.
Adegbe highlighted the importance of partnerships that strengthen the connection between young Nigerians, skills development, and employment opportunities. He urged companies, foundations, development partners, and other institutions to contribute funding, technology, mentorship, training, internships, and employment opportunities through the NJFP platform. Cisco’s projected contribution demonstrates how private-sector expertise and learning infrastructure can complement government policy and development financing to expand opportunities for young Nigerians.
The new collaboration with Cisco is expected to deepen the objective of providing participants with additional skills that can improve their competitiveness in Nigeria and the global labor market. The broader ambition is to build a national platform that brings government, development partners, and the private sector together to develop the workforce needed for Nigeria’s economic transformation. Adegbe stated that the ambition is not simply to prepare young Nigerians for the future of work but to prepare Nigeria for the future of its $1 trillion economy.
Head of Green and Digital Economy at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Yolanda San Jose, observed that the EU has invested approximately €44 million in the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s workforce and promoting inclusive economic growth. She stressed that the long-term success of the initiative would depend on sustained government leadership, deeper private-sector engagement, and continued investment in Nigerian talent.
UNDP Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, said the partnership would strengthen the transition from learning to earning by combining practical workplace experience with industry-relevant digital training. She disclosed that nearly 35,000 fellows had been placed with over 11,000 host organizations across Nigeria through the NJFP, which provides graduates with paid, 12-month work placements. The next priority is to help participants move from fellowship placements into sustained employment, professional advancement, and enterprise creation.
Key points
- The partnership aims to provide digital skills training and employment opportunities for 150,000 Nigerian youths over three years.
- The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between academic qualifications and the skills demanded by employers.
- The partnership aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on job creation, human capital development, and expanding economic opportunities.
