Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has called on youths, employers, and captains of industry to embrace the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0, describing it as a transformational opportunity for building an efficient workforce.
Governor Ododo made the call in a message delivered at the Kogi Employers & Fellows Engagement held in Lokoja.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of Kogi State, Dr. Folashade Ayoade, the Governor declared his administration’s full support for the programme, describing NJFP 2.0 as a strategic bridge between academic brilliance and real-world workforce demands.
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He noted that the fully paid 12-month programme has the capacity to tackle the frustrating paradox long faced by Nigerian graduates.
The Governor stressed that the collaboration among stakeholders involved in the project reflects a shared conviction that a nation’s greatest wealth lies not in its natural resources, but in the minds of its young people.
He urged host organisations to reward fellows of that calibre with genuine responsibility, mentorship, and the freedom to inject fresh, digital-age thinking into their operations.
He reminded the fellows that academic qualifications open doors, but character, work ethic, and a hunger to learn are what sustain a career long after any programme ends.
“You carry the pride and reputation of Kogi State. Let your conduct be irreproachable,” he told them.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Delivery and Coordination, Mr. Akubo Adegbe, commended the strong partnership between the programme and the state government.
According to the presidential aide, Nigeria has many talented young people who lack the platform to express themselves, adding that addressing this gap is a core objective of the programme.
He maintained that Nigeria does not face a talent deficit but an opportunity deficit, and that the programme is aimed at building a national workforce for the future.
He explained that while the state is yet to meet its target number of beneficiaries, the project will strengthen the state’s workforce and add value to governance.
He also stated that the NJFP was initiated by the Federal Government and is being implemented in partnership with the European Union, noting that efforts are ongoing to ensure its sustainability.
Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Monday Anyebe, urged young people to take advantage of the programme to gain practical work experience. He also appealed to employers to provide a conducive platform for fellows to learn and grow.
Earlier, Dr. Bashir Tenuche, the Director General of the Kogi ICT Development Agency, noted that the programme has provided practical work experience for youths across the state and the country at large.
According to him, NJFP has enhanced professionalism and enthusiasm among young people, offering them the opportunity to develop discipline, ethics, and a strong work culture.
Dr. Tenuche encouraged young graduates in the state to embrace the programme, describing it as a platform for building future leaders and changemakers in Nigeria.
