Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi has ordered the government to create at least 10,000 internship opportunities for young graduates, saying the country must do more to bridge the gap between education and employment.
Mr Ndejembi has given the Ministries of Planning and Investment, Finance, and Agriculture two weeks to prepare a practical training programme that will place young people in public institutions and private companies.
The initiative is expected to give young people work experience and improve their chances of securing jobs or starting businesses as Tanzania implements its Development Vision 2050.
The Vice President issued the directive on Friday while representing President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the opening of the 2026 C-CEOs Forum at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC).
He said about 62,570 young people graduated from higher education institutions in 2025, according to figures from the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU). The figure does not include graduates from VETA and middle-level colleges.
However, only about 3,200 young people had gone through internship programmes under the Tanzania Employment Services Agency (TAESA), he said.
The figures, Mr Ndejembi said, showed the need for government and employers to expand practical training opportunities for young people entering the labour market.
“Every year, about 62,570 young people graduate from higher education. This figure does not include those completing VETA and middle-level colleges,” he said.
“TAESA figures show that only 3,200 young people had gone through internship programmes. This number is very small compared with the 62,570 graduates from different colleges across the country.”
Under the plan, at least 10,000 graduates are expected to receive practical training in public institutions, with stipends provided to support them during the programme. The private sector is expected to provide opportunities for at least another 20,000 young people.
Mr Ndejembi urged public institutions to view internship programmes as an investment in Tanzania’s workforce rather than an additional routine expense.
“Look at this as a strategic investment in the national workforce by reducing ordinary expenditure. In doing so, you will be implementing the second pillar of Vision 2050 in practical terms,” he said.
The Vice President also challenged board chairpersons and chief executives of public corporations to change how their institutions operate and increase their contribution to economic growth.
He said public corporations manage strategic assets and infrastructure and provide services in sectors including energy, transport, communications, finance, health and water.
“Public corporations have a unique role in achieving the goals of Vision 2050 because of their responsibility to manage public assets, operate strategic infrastructure and provide essential services that carry our economy,” he said.
Mr Ndejembi also directed public institutions to identify ways of cutting unproductive expenditure, reducing dependence on government funding and developing sustainable revenue sources.
He said every shilling of public money should generate value for citizens.
To ensure the directives are implemented, he directed the Treasury Registrar’s Office to strengthen its performance assessment system for public corporations.
Institutions that successfully implement the youth internship directive are also expected to be recognised in next year’s performance awards.
Mr Ndejembi further directed public institutions and corporations to prepare for the effects of El Niño rains, particularly by protecting infrastructure and public investments and ensuring essential services are not disrupted.
The three-day C-CEOs Forum 2026, organised by the Treasury Registrar’s Office, has brought together board chairpersons and chief executives of public institutions, state-owned corporations and government agencies.
The forum also includes ministers, parliamentary standing committee chairpersons, permanent secretaries and other senior government officials.
It is examining the performance and future direction of public corporations and discussing measures to increase their contribution to Tanzania’s economy as the country begins implementing Vision 2050.