The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Cisco have partnered to provide up to 50,000 fellows and alumni of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) with free access to digital skills training, in a move aimed at improving youth employability and preparing graduates for the evolving demands of the labour market.
The partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the UN House in Abuja, bringing together representatives of the Federal Government, UNDP, Cisco, the European Union, development partners and NJFP participants.
Under the agreement, eligible fellows and alumni will gain access to Cisco Networking Academy (NetAcad), an online learning platform offering courses in technology and other digital skills. Access will be provided on a rolling basis, with the initiative targeting up to 50,000 participants.
The training is designed to complement the workplace experience and professional development opportunities available through the NJFP by equipping participants with additional skills relevant to the changing employment landscape.
The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme is a youth employability initiative of the Federal Government, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP. It connects young Nigerian graduates with skills development, workplace experience and private-sector employment opportunities.
UNDP Resident Representative Elsie Attafuah said the collaboration builds on the programme’s role in connecting young people’s skills and work experience with opportunities in a rapidly changing economy.
She noted that the partnership combines Cisco’s technology expertise and industry-relevant learning pathways with UNDP’s development experience and national employability platform.
Attafuah said the success of the initiative should be measured by its impact on young Nigerians, particularly their ability to transition from learning into meaningful employment, secure sustainable livelihoods and contribute to the country’s digital economy.
Representing the Office of the Vice President’s Delivery Unit, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Delivery and Coordination Akubo Adegbe highlighted the importance of linking skills development with employment opportunities.
He said the collaboration aligns with broader efforts to expand economic opportunities, create jobs, strengthen human capital and equip young Nigerians with the skills and enterprise capabilities needed to participate in a changing economy.
The European Union also reaffirmed its support for the NJFP and other initiatives promoting employment, innovation and entrepreneurship among young people.
Yolanda San Jose, Head of Green and Digital Economy at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the EU remained committed to supporting a more competitive, digital, greener and inclusive Nigerian economy where young people can contribute to innovation and sustainable growth.
Cisco Nigeria and Ghana General Manager Abdelaziz Saidu described the NJFP as a platform that helps graduates transition from education to employment through workplace experience, mentorship, leadership development and skills training.
He said Cisco was contributing digital learning content and training opportunities valued at more than US$52.7 million through the initiative. The programme is expected to reach 50,000 learners annually over the next three years.
According to Saidu, Cisco Networking Academy has already reached more than one million learners in Nigeria, providing training in areas such as computer networking, cybersecurity, software development, data analytics and emerging technologies.
The partnership is expected to strengthen the NJFP’s role as a talent pipeline by combining workplace exposure with industry-led digital learning. For participating fellows and alumni, the additional training will provide an opportunity to develop technical capabilities that could support their pursuit of employment and other professional opportunities.
Experiences shared by fellows and alumni at the signing ceremony also highlighted the potential of digital learning to help young Nigerians strengthen their professional skills and prepare for future career opportunities.
The collaboration reflects a broader effort to connect digital skills development with practical workplace experience, as Nigeria seeks to equip its growing youth population to participate in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
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