Federal Government Introduces N-Power to Address Youth Unemployment

The Federal Government of Nigeria has designed the N-Power Programme to drastically reduce youth unemployment. The focus is to provide our young graduates and non-graduates with the skills, tools and livelihood to enable them advance from unemployment to employment, entrepreneurship and innovation. The first phase of N-Power will target Nigeria’s critical needs in education, agriculture, technology, creative, construction and artisanal industries. N-Power is also preparing Nigeria for a global outsourcing push where our young Nigerians can export their services to work on global projects that earn Nigeria, foreign exchange.

The programme is supported by both government and the private sector, approved for funding under the social investment programme, comprehensive support given to participants and Offers clear progression pathways into gainful employment.

Skills and knowledge are the driving forces of economic growth and social development. Despite the current high level of unemployment, harnessing Nigeria’s young demography through appropriate skill development efforts provides an opportunity to achieve inclusion and productivity within the country.  Large-scale skill development is the main policy thrust of the N-Power Programme.

N-Power is also linked to the Federal Government’s policies in the economic, employment and social development arenas.  N-Power addresses the challenge of youth unemployment by providing a structure for large scale and relevant work skills acquisition and development while linking its core and outcomes to fixing inadequate public services and stimulating the larger economy. The modular programmes under N-Power will ensure that each participant will learn and practice most of what is necessary to find or create work. The N-Power Teacher Corp involves a massive deployment of 500,000 trained graduates who will assist to improve the inadequacies in our public services in education, health and civic education.  Some of these graduates will also help in actualising Nigeria’s economic and strategic aspirations of achieving food security and self-sufficiency.

N-Power is the FG's Job Creation Initiative for Graduates and Non-graduates.
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— Prof Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo) June 8, 2016

N-Power will also be a platform for diversifying the economy. N-Power is preparing young Nigerians for a knowledge economy where, equipped with world-class skills and certification, they become innovators and movers in the domestic and global markets. Nigeria will have a pool of software developers, hardware service professionals, animators, graphic artists, building services professionals, artisans and others. N-Power also focuses on providing our non-graduates with relevant technical and business skills that enhance their work outlook and livelihood.

In sum, N-Power is segmented as follows:

• N-Power Teachers Corps- 500,000 graduates
• N-Power Knowledge – 25,000 non-graduates
• N-Power Build- 75,000 non-graduates

N-Power aspires to provide a platform where most Nigerians can access skills acquisition and development. At this time however, the initial modular programmes in N-Power are designed for Nigerian citizens between the ages of 18 and 35. You will need to meet the minimum requirements (if any) for your respective programme. Generally, selection is based:

• on your expression of a genuine interest in whichever area you decide;
• passing the relevant tests;
• your willingness to push yourself beyond your comfort zone; and
• ability to show a flair to develop all the skills you need to be the best you can be.

While there are fixed requirements along the way, we will be relying on you to take ownership of the process and take the lead in shaping your route, by making the most of the training that you will receive.

For the purposes of N-Power, Graduate means having a minimum of a Higher National Diploma (HND) or a Bachelors Degree from a higher institution.

Focus areas are:

Health, Teaching, Agriculture, Technology, Community Service, Vocational, Animation and post-production

Find out More at npower.gov.ng