In August 2025, the Government of Nigeria launched the redesigned National Employment Policy (NEP), a framework designed to create decent and sustainable jobs for Nigerians. The NEP offers value for young people as they make up more than 60 percent of Nigeria’s 210 million population.
In this article, we will discuss more information about the NEP and why it should matter to you.
Education and Skills: Building Pathways from School to Work
One of the NEP’s strongest messages is that education must prepare young people not just for certificates, but for real jobs and livelihoods. The policy calls for:
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Functional education and training systems that connect what we learn in classrooms to what employers need in the labour market.
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Expanding vocational and technical training, including ICT, digital skills, and entrepreneurship education.
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Strengthening school-to-work transition programmes like internships, apprenticeships, and career guidance.
For young people, this is a clear signal: skills are the new currency. It is not just about finishing school, but about building the practical abilities to thrive in a fast-changing economy shaped by technology, climate change, and new industries.
Employment Creation: From Job Seekers to Job Makers
Youth unemployment and underemployment remain stubbornly high in Nigeria. The NEP sets out strategies to expand opportunities, especially in areas where young people can lead innovation:
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Supporting entrepreneurship and self-employment with access to finance, mentorship, and business incubation.
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Promoting green jobs in renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, and the circular economy.
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Opening up opportunities in the digital economy, from coding and e-commerce to creative industries.
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Encouraging private sector-led job creation while also improving conditions in the informal economy, where many young people already work.
This means the future of work in Nigeria won’t just be about finding jobs, it will also be about creating them.
Social Protection: Security for All Young People
Too often, young Nigerians face employment that is insecure, unpaid, or unsafe. The NEP addresses this by promising to:
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Expand social protection coverage, including unemployment benefits and income support.
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Ensure inclusion of youth in informal work, young women, persons with disabilities, and those in rural areas.
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Strengthen labour rights and workplace safety so that all jobs are decent jobs.
For young people, this is about dignity, equality, and protection in the world of work.
How To Take Action on the NEP?
The NEP is an invitation for young people to:
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Get informed: Know your rights and opportunities under the policy.
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Get skilled: Invest in learning with emphasis on digital skills, green economy skills, and entrepreneurial skills.
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Get involved: Join advocacy campaigns to make sure youth voices are heard and mainstreamed in the implementation of the NEP.
At the Network of Youth for Sustainable Initiative (NGYouthSDGs), we call on all youth stakeholders, including governments, private sector organisations, academia, international development partners, civil society organisations, and the media, to partner with young people, not just talk about them.
The 2025 National Employment Policy outlines a vision for a Nigeria where every young person has the opportunity to access decent work, build a livelihood, and contribute to national development. But policies don’t implement themselves. Change will only happen if we, the youth, step up, speak out, and take action.
At NGYouthSDGs, we are committed to making sure that young Nigerians are not left behind. Together, let’s turn the promise of the NEP into a reality for millions of young people across the country.
