There is a troubling trend of apathy in the Southeast toward national programs—even those built strictly on meritocracy and free from the usual political barriers. We often demand a level playing field, yet when one is provided, we aren’t showing up.
Take the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) as a prime example. This isn’t just a “government scheme”; it is funded by the European Union and designed to put money and experience directly into the hands of our youth.
Let’s look at the “Opportunity Cost” of our current lack of interest:
• The Stipend: Each fellow receives ₦150,000 monthly.
• The Annual Impact: For a single fellow, that is ₦1.8 million injected into the local economy.
While other regions are seeing over 50,000 applications, the Southeast is struggling to hit 20,000.
If we simply matched that energy and got just 1,000 additional youth from each of the five Southeast states into the program, we would be injecting ₦9 billion into our regional economy. That is money for rent, for small businesses, and for families—all currently sitting in a bank waiting to be claimed.
By staying on the sidelines, we aren’t “boycotting” the system; we are underfunding our own streets. While other regions use these programs to bolster their human capital and liquidity, we are letting our share slip away.
The cash is ready. The merit-based door is open. The only thing missing is us.
You can register as a host business, apply as a fellow, or share this post to empower our youth. Let’s claim our share
https://www.njfp.ng/
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