Sanwo-Olu and partners renewed support for a youth employment drive aimed at reducing unemployment and boosting skills development

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the United Nations Development Programme, the European Union and major private sector stakeholders on Friday renewed calls for stronger collaboration to address rising unemployment and underemployment among Nigerian youths.

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The appeal was made during the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme 2.0 Employers’ Forum held in Lagos, where government officials, development partners and employers examined strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s workforce pipeline and expanding opportunities for young graduates.

The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme is a Federal Government initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by the UNDP to bridge the gap between tertiary education and the labour market through workplace training, mentorship and professional experience.

Sanwo-Olu, represented at the event by Chairman of the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, Boladele Dapo-Thomas, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to youth empowerment and deeper engagement with the private sector to stimulate job creation.

The governor praised the European Union for sustaining support towards Nigeria’s socio-economic development and described the programme as a powerful investment in human capital development.

“I commend the European Union for its sustained funding and commitment to Nigeria’s socio-economic transformation,” Sanwo-Olu said through his representative.

“I equally commend UNDP Nigeria for the excellence of its implementation and applaud every employer present here today.”

According to the governor, organisations participating in the initiative by hosting fellows and offering mentorship opportunities were directly contributing to the next phase of Nigeria’s economic growth.

Speaking at the forum, Inga Stefanowicz reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to programmes focused on workforce development and employability for young people.

Stefanowicz said initiatives such as the NJFP were producing 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,” Stefanowicz said.

“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.”

Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, stressed the importance of sustained partnerships among government institutions, development agencies and the organised private sector in driving inclusive economic growth.

Attafuah described the Employers’ Forum as a critical platform for strengthening long-term collaboration between talent development, enterprise expansion and national economic transformation.

According to Attafuah, the participation of employers, technology firms, financial institutions, manufacturers and agribusinesses reflected growing recognition that workforce transformation must become a collective responsibility.

The youth employment drive also highlighted increasing confidence among employers in collaborative solutions designed to prepare Nigerian graduates for the rapidly evolving demands of the labour market.

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Stakeholders at the forum further explored sustainable pathways for reducing youth unemployment through innovation, entrepreneurship and skills acquisition across critical sectors of the economy.