The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) places fresh Nigerian graduates into 12-month paid work placements with host organisations across all 36 states and the FCT, paying a monthly stipend of ₦150,000. No application deadline is stated on the official programme page, so treat this as open and apply when you’re ready rather than waiting for a countdown. You must be a Nigerian citizen, 30 or younger, have completed NYSC, and hold at least a Second-Class Lower degree or Upper Credit HND.
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NJFP is a Federal Government of Nigeria initiative, funded by the European Union and implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme. It exists specifically to close the gap between graduating and finding real work — not by offering training in isolation, but by placing graduates directly inside public and private sector organisations that need talent, while also working on the structural barriers that make employers hesitant to hire fresh graduates in the first place.
This guide walks through exactly how the placement process works, since becoming a “Fellow” happens later in the process than most applicants expect.
NJFP Fellowship Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) |
| Host Country ⇒ | Nigeria |
| Study Level ⇒ | Training | Fellowships |
| Benefits ⇒ | A monthly stipend of ₦150,000 for 12 months, plus mentorship, employability, digital, and entrepreneurship skills training |
| Funded By ⇒ | Federal Government of Nigeria, funded by the European Union, implemented with UNDP |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | Nigeria only |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | Not specified on the official programme page — apply as early as possible. |
How the Fellow Journey Actually Works
Applying doesn’t make you a “Fellow” right away, and understanding the actual sequence helps you set realistic expectations for how long this takes:
- Application — you apply with your required documentation, after completing NYSC.
- Assessment and Selection — once your documents are approved, you go through a computer-based aptitude test, a video submission, and a psychometric assessment.
- Onboarding — after passing these assessments, you join the applicant pool, where you build your CV and wait to be matched with a host organisation based on their talent needs and your development needs within a specific catchment area.
- Work Placement — once you’re matched, onboarding and placement begin. You only become a “Fellow” once you’re invited to start by your host organisation and actually resume work.
- Mentorship and Growth — you spend your 12 months as a paid Fellow with your host organisation.
- Alumni Talent Hub — if you’re not retained by your host organisation and haven’t secured other employment by the end of your 12 months, you move into a further six months of unpaid career guidance and support.
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The applicant pool stage is the part most people underestimate — you can be fully assessed and approved and still be waiting for a placement match, since it depends on a host organisation’s specific needs lining up with your profile and location.
Who Can Apply for the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme
You must:
- Be a Nigerian citizen
- Be a fresh graduate — Bachelor’s degree or HND — from any discipline, having graduated no earlier than 2022
- Hold at least a Second-Class Lower (2.2) for a Bachelor’s degree, or an Upper Credit (above 3.00) for an HND
- Be 30 years old or younger
- Not currently be engaged in any employment
- Have completed NYSC, or hold a certificate of exemption
- Show genuine interest and commitment to your chosen career field, and to Nigeria’s socio-economic development
- Demonstrate professional attitude, time management, and good verbal and written communication skills
What Fellows Receive
- A monthly stipend of ₦150,000 for the full 12-month placement
- Mentorship from industry professionals and experienced leaders
- Employability skills training to strengthen your market readiness
- Digital literacy and digital skills training
- Entrepreneurship skills training, for building business acumen alongside employability
After the 12 Months: Retention or the Alumni Talent Hub
Not every Fellow is retained by their host organisation at the end of the placement, and NJFP builds a specific safety net for this rather than simply ending support at month 12. If you aren’t retained and haven’t found other employment, you move into the Alumni Talent Hub for a further six months — this phase is unpaid, but it continues to offer career guidance and support while you look for your next role. Go in with this timeline in mind: 12 months of paid placement isn’t automatically followed by a job offer, and the six-month Alumni Hub period is a bridge, not a guaranteed extension of your stipend.
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Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme Required Documents
- A notarized Degree Certificate
- Your NYSC Certificate, or your certificate of NYSC exemption
How to Apply Step By Step for the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme
- Confirm you’ve completed NYSC or hold a valid exemption certificate — this is a prerequisite before you can apply, not something you can complete afterward.
- Gather your notarized Degree Certificate and NYSC documentation before starting your application.
- Submit your application with the required documentation through the official NJFP portal.
- Prepare for the assessment stage — a computer-based aptitude test, a video submission, and a psychometric assessment follow document approval, so this isn’t a one-step application process.
- Build a strong CV once you’re in the applicant pool, since your placement depends on how well your profile matches a host organisation’s specific needs within your catchment area.
Application Deadline
No deadline is listed on the official programme page. Given that placement depends on being matched with a host organisation rather than a fixed intake date, it’s reasonable to treat this as a continuously open, rolling process — apply as soon as you meet the eligibility criteria rather than waiting for an announced window, since earlier applicants may move through assessment and into the matching pool sooner.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to actually start working after I apply?
There’s no fixed timeline given, and it depends heavily on how quickly you’re matched with a host organisation once you’re in the applicant pool. You can be fully assessed and approved and still wait for a suitable match, since placement depends on a host organisation’s specific talent needs aligning with your profile and location.
Am I guaranteed a job after my 12-month Fellowship ends?
No. If your host organisation doesn’t retain you and you haven’t secured other employment, you move into the Alumni Talent Hub for six months of unpaid career guidance and support, rather than continuing on stipend.
Can I apply if I’m currently doing informal or part-time work?
The eligibility criteria state you must not be currently engaged in any employment, so confirm your current work situation against this requirement honestly before applying, since it’s listed as a formal eligibility criterion, not just a preference.
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Does my course of study matter for eligibility?
No specific discipline is required — NJFP is open to graduates from any discipline, provided you meet the academic standing requirement (Second-Class Lower or better for a Bachelor’s, Upper Credit or better for HND) and the other eligibility criteria.
Can organisations apply to host Fellows, not just graduates apply to become one?
Yes. NJFP runs a separate application track for Host Organisations alongside the Fellow application track, since the programme depends on matching graduates with organisations that have genuine talent needs.
Disclaimer: All fellowship details, deadlines, benefits, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of August 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme website before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the Federal Government of Nigeria, the European Union, or UNDP.
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