Vice President The stakeholders made the call during the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0 Employers’ Forum held in Lagos, where government officials, development partners and leading employers explored strategies aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s workforce pipeline and expanding employment opportunities for young graduates.
The Shettima was represented at the event by Akubo Adegbe, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Delivery and Coordination, Office of the Vice President.
Speaking at the forum, Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by Chairman of the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, He praised the European Union for its continued support towards Nigeria’s socio-economic development and described the initiative as a strategic investment in the country’s human capital development.
“I commend the European Union for its sustained funding and commitment to Nigeria’s socio-economic transformation. I equally commend UNDP Nigeria for the excellence of its implementation and applaud every employer present here today.
“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.
Also speaking, She noted that initiatives such as the NJFP were delivering measurable impact by equipping graduates with practical skills while connecting them to meaningful workplace opportunities.
“The European Union is proud to support initiatives like NJFP that deliver tangible results for young people and businesses. By equipping graduates with relevant skills and connecting them to real workplace opportunities, we are not only addressing unemployment but also strengthening the foundations for sustainable economic growth,” she said.
In her remarks, According to her, the participation of employers, financial institutions, technology companies, manufacturers, agribusinesses and innovation-driven enterprises at the forum reflected a growing recognition that workforce transformation must be treated as a collective national responsibility.
“This Employers’ Forum is important not only because of the commitments it seeks to mobilise for NJFP placements, but because it represents a broader platform for strengthening long-term partnerships between talent development, enterprise growth and economic transformation in Nigeria,” she said.
Attafuah added that the active involvement of major employers and business ecosystem actors demonstrated increasing confidence in collaborative solutions aimed at preparing Nigerian youths for the evolving demands of the labour market.