By Harriet Tornguvan -Abuja
The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Akinyemi Nafiu, has called on stakeholders to provide increased support for Corps Members in areas of financial literacy, mentorship, technical skills training, and access to grants.
The appeal was made in a keynote address delivered on his behalf by the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics, Dr. Ahmed Wada Ikaka, during a strategic stakeholders’ meeting on the NYSC’s Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, held at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja.
General Nafiu noted a significant gap between the number of Corps Members trained in various vocational skills and the relatively few who succeed in launching their own businesses.
He attributed this disparity to limited access to start-up capital and the restrictive conditions often tied to funding opportunities.
“Despite these challenges, the Scheme has made commendable strides,” Nafiu stated, adding that more than three million Corps Members have been sensitized and trained in entrepreneurial skills since the inception of the SAED programme in 2012.
He also noted that many of these young Nigerians have successfully established businesses and are now employers of labour.
The Director General expressed appreciation to key partners including the NNPC Foundation, Activate Success, and Wema Bank, for their support in facilitating the registration of over 30,000 Corps Members’ businesses at a 50% discount through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Additionally, He revealed that the SAED framework has been integrated into the NYSC Integrated System (NIS), offering Corps Members a one-stop digital platform for entrepreneurial and skills development resources.
“This integration not only streamlines the process of skill acquisition but also includes initiatives like the Job Awareness Creation Program, which provides job readiness training, mock interviews, and CV reviews,” he said.
General Nafiu further disclosed ongoing collaborations with the Outsource to Nigeria Initiative (OTNI), led by the Office of the Vice President, to connect Corps Members with job opportunities locally and abroad. He also announced that NYSC is working with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to involve Corps Members in the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) project.
“These initiatives have the potential to be transformational in achieving youth inclusion and employment generation, aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
Also, the Director of SAED, Mr. Kehinde Aremu-Cole, highlighted the theme of the gathering: “Transforming Corps Members: Strengthening Partnership for Sustainable Skills Acquisition and Empowerment.
He praised the stakeholders for their enduring support and urged them to continue contributing ideas and innovations to enhance the impact of the SAED programme.
