FG, UNDP sign MoU on youth employment

The Federal Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed an agreement on youth employment.

The implementation of the agreement will see Nigerian youth gain employment with the global body under what is known as Junior Professional Officers Programme (JPO-P).

JPO-P came into existence in 1963, with several countries participating in the programme.

There are currently about 150 junior professional officers in various countries across the world.

The number of youth employed is dependent on individual government who are expected to fund it.

Nigeria first signed onto the initiative in 2012 but could not utilize the opportunity which expired in 2015.

By signing this agreement, the ministry of Foreign Affairs has now taken the initiative to reactivate the programme.

The initiative will not only launch the careers of young Nigerians in the United Nations system, it will also help in building capacity and human resources.

Speaking at the signing of the MoU, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama said the initiative will positively affect the future of Nigeria’s representation in the UN.

Onyeama noted that President Muhammadu Buhari attaches so much importance to youth development and hence the government is prepared to implement the initiative; stressing that Nigeria is a country with developmental programmes as it is the core of nationhood.

He therefore stressed that the JPO-P will give more opportunities for young Nigerians to work within the UN set up, adding that “It will be a win-win agreement for all”.

He however noted that the 2019 budget will determine the number of youth to be employed.

In his remark, Mr. Joerg Kuehnel, acting Resident Representative, was delighted that Nigeria is committed to the programme, which he described as very important.

“For us the participation of Nigeria is important because of the position the country occupy.”

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