Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has joined the United Nations Development Programme, the European Union and private sector leaders in calling for deeper collaboration to address rising youth unemployment and underemployment in Nigeria. The appeal was made at the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0 Employers' Forum held in Lagos, where stakeholders discussed strategies to strengthen the country's workforce pipeline and increase job access for recent graduates.
The NJFP is a Federal Government initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by the UNDP to connect young Nigerians with workplace experience and mentorship opportunities, bridging the gap between tertiary education and labour market demands. Sanwo-Olu was represented at the event by Boladele Dapo-Thomas, Chairman of the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, who reaffirmed the state government's commitment to youth empowerment and private sector partnerships for job creation.
The Governor commended the European Union for its continued financial support toward Nigeria's socio-economic development and praised UNDP Nigeria for effective implementation of the programme. "By hosting fellows, offering mentorship and opening your organisations to Nigerian graduates, you are making a direct investment in the human capital that will power the nation's next phase of growth," he said.
Inga Stefanowicz, representing the European Union, highlighted the measurable impact of the NJFP in equipping graduates with practical skills and linking them to real job opportunities. She stated that the EU remains committed to workforce development initiatives that benefit both young people and businesses. Elsie Attafuah of UNDP Nigeria emphasized the importance of sustained cooperation among public institutions, development partners and the private sector in driving inclusive growth.
She noted that the presence of employers, financial institutions, tech firms, manufacturers and agribusinesses at the forum signals growing recognition that transforming the workforce is a shared national responsibility. The forum also provided a platform for stakeholders to explore long-term solutions for reducing youth unemployment, while promoting innovation and entrepreneurship.
Sanwo-Olu commends international partners for funding a jobs programme the Federal Government is meant to lead, yet offers no state-level plan to replicate or expand it. The Lagos government's reliance on a federally driven, externally funded initiative exposes its own lack of scalable youth employment strategy. While praising EU and UNDP for action, the state's position highlights dependency rather than leadership on job creation. Nigerian youths in Lagos are left waiting for homegrown solutions to a crisis that demands immediate, local answers.
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