The Director-Basic of the Nationwide Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, has referred to as the Skills Acquisition & Entreprenuership Division, SAED, programme a vital “Plan B” for corps members to guarantee self-reliance.
Whereas addressing 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream II corps members in Kaduna on Friday, Nafiu urged them to totally embrace the SAED initiative throughout orientation to construct sustainable livelihoods.
Nafiu defined that SAED geared up corps members with sensible abilities to change into self-employed, particularly when job guarantees from relations or entry to white-collar employment failed to materialise.
He mentioned the SAED programme was tailor-made to make Nigerian graduates business-minded, thus lowering dependence on authorities jobs and selling youth-led entrepreneurship throughout the nation.
Nafiu highlighted that NYSC was greater than a service 12 months; it’s a platform to put together youth for future challenges whereas fostering nationwide unity and growth throughout various areas.
He mentioned the federal government’s funding in youth schooling underscored its perception of their position as drivers of nationwide transformation, urging corps members to worth the duty.
The Director-Basic inspired corps members to transcend mere participation, urging them to discover significant contributions towards nationwide growth, even after their one-year obligatory service.
He cautioned towards viewing the service 12 months as a trip, stressing that it ought to be used to purchase new abilities, broaden networks, and put together for future alternatives.
Nafiu lauded Kaduna State for being hospitable, recalling his expertise as a camp commandant there, his first NYSC posting, and warranted corps members of continued assist and security.
He appealed to the Kaduna State authorities and communities to preserve their custom of caring for corps members’ welfare, making certain their safety and well-being all through the service 12 months.
Nafiu suggested corps members to undertake the behavior of saving from their month-to-month stipends, noting that monetary self-discipline is essential to making future investments and constructing stability.
He disclosed that the federal government had launched a N2 billion mortgage initiative by way of the Financial institution of Trade to assist corps members with enterprise concepts and entrepreneurial objectives.
In accordance to him, every corps member can entry up to N5 million at a single-digit rate of interest of 9 per cent, repayable over three years, with a three-month moratorium interval.
