YOUTH
EMPOWERMENT AT THE HEART OF OUR AGENDA, GOV.NAMADI TELLS FG, UNDP DELEGATION
Gov.Umar Namadi has reiterated that youth empowerment and job creation remain central to the development priorities of his administration, pledging Jigawa State’s full support for the expansion of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme and other initiatives aimed at creating opportunities for young people.
The governor spoke on Tuesday while receiving a delegation from the Office of the Vice President and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), led by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Delivery and Coordination, Mr Akubo Adegbe, and Dr Iorwakwagh Apera, Senior Adviser at UNDP Nigeria, at the Government House in Dutse.
Describing the fellowship programme as one that aligns closely with his administration’s 12-Point Agenda, Governor Namadi said concern for the welfare and future of young people informed some of the earliest decisions taken by his government upon assumption of office.
He stated that the Jigawa State Economic Empowerment and Youth Employment Agency was among the first agencies established by the administration, reflecting its resolve to tackle unemployment and equip the youth with the means to build productive lives.
“When we toured the state during the campaign, one thing that stayed with me was the number of young people who came out to welcome us. I kept asking myself what we could do to justify the confidence they placed in us. That is why youth development remains a major priority for this administration,” the governor said.
He disclosed that more than 10,000 young people have so far secured employment in the education, health and agriculture sectors, while close to 9,900 others have been engaged as security guards to maintain public infrastructure across schools, hospitals and courts.
Governor Namadi assured the delegation that Jigawa would actively support the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme, saying the state was prepared to complement efforts aimed at increasing the number of beneficiaries.
“Anything that concerns the welfare and future of our youths is something we embrace wholeheartedly. If opportunities are brought to Jigawa, we are ready to do more to ensure that more young people benefit,” he said.
The governor also highlighted the state’s investment in building technical skills among young people, recalling that 30 Jigawa indigenes were sent to China for specialised training on the operation and maintenance of agricultural machinery procured by the government.
“These tractors you have seen there – before bringing them in, we sent 30 young men to China. They have been trained on how to maintain and operate them. These young men assembled most of these tractors upon their return.
Namadi also expressed Jigawa State’s readiness to deepen collaboration with the UNDP in other areas that would advance economic growth and improve the livelihoods of citizens.
Speaking earlier, Mr Akubo Adegbe explained that the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme, a flagship initiative of the Federal Government implemented by the UNDP with support from the European Union, was designed to bridge the gap between higher education and the workplace by providing graduates with practical experience through a one-year fellowship.
Adegbe said the programme had reached about 29,000 young Nigerians since its inception in 2022, adding that nearly 19,000 beneficiaries had already been deployed under the revamped NJFP 2.0 launched in October 2025.
He described young Nigerians as highly talented and innovative, stating that the challenge facing many of them was not a lack of ability but limited access to opportunities.
The presidential aide commended Governor Namadi’s investments in agriculture and vocational skills development after touring some facilities across the state, particularly the agricultural mechanisation programme, which he said demonstrated the administration’s commitment to expanding economic opportunities for its people.
“Yesterday, Your Excellency, I went around with Dr Obale to see some vocational training centres. The place that blew my mind was when we went to see the tractors and harvesters. I’ve never seen that number of tractors before in my life in one place.
“What that tells us is that as a governor, you are committed to the development of the people. The tractors need drivers, the centres need accountants, the harvesters need operators, and the whole value chain needs human beings to support it. I really commend you.Adegbe said the delegation was in Jigawa to strengthen collaboration with the state government, improve participation in the fellowship programme and explore pathways for sustaining it through partnerships between the federal government, development partners and state governments.
