Transforming Corps Members: Over 3.18 Million trained on entrepreneurship development –NYSC DG

By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.

The establishment of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) by former Nigerian military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, was undoubtedly aimed at promoting national cohesion and fostering unity across ethnic and cultural divides.

Since its inception, the NYSC has introduced various initiatives and programs aligned with its founding purpose. One of the most notable is the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) program.

Before the introduction of SAED in 2012, over 300,000 young Nigerian graduates, both locally and foreign-trained, were mobilized annually for the mandatory one-year national service under the NYSC.

Unfortunately, only about 10% of these graduates could secure white-collar jobs upon completion of their service. Even those with exceptional academic records, including first-class degrees and Higher National Diplomas, often found themselves in positions below their qualifications and expectations.

Confronted with high unemployment and underdevelopment, some ex-corps members became disillusioned and resorted to social vices such as armed robbery, kidnapping, and internet fraud.

To tackle these growing concerns, the NYSC established the SAED department in 2012 to equip graduates with practical skills for self-reliance—transforming them from job seekers into job creators. Many corps and ex-corps members have since become self-employed and even employers of labor.

Despite notable progress, much more remains to be done. Fully realizing the potential of SAED requires strong collaboration and partnerships among all stakeholders. A collective effort is needed to elevate this initiative for sustainable impact.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting and conference themed, “Transforming Corps Members: Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Skills Acquisition and Empowerment,” held at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, NYSC Director-General Brigadier General OO Nafiu stated, “The National Youth Service Corps, through its SAED program, has sensitized over 3.18 million corps members on entrepreneurship development and provided them hands-on training in various vocational skills.”

He noted that a significant number of corps members have gone on to establish their own businesses and become employers of labor, having been empowered through grants, loans, and materials from the NYSC’s valued partners.

While acknowledging the successes achieved so far, the Director-General emphasized the persistent challenges, such as the need for expanded capacity-building opportunities, increased market access, scholarship support, and more favorable loan conditions.

In addressing these challenges, Brigadier General Nafiu called on stakeholders to deepen their engagement by providing financial education, mentorship, technical support, and funding opportunities for aspiring corps entrepreneurs.

“We are particularly concerned about the wide gap between the number of corps members trained in various skills and those who eventually become business owners. This disparity is largely due to limited access to start-up capital and, where available, unfavorable conditions,” he added.

The NYSC DG urged stakeholders to renew their commitment to empowering corps members to become catalysts for national transformation through strengthened collaboration and scalable strategies.

“We can build a future where Nigerian youths have access to grants, interest-free facilities, and mentorship that enables them to become job creators and nation builders. I look forward to resolutions that will address these critical gaps.”

He concluded by expressing his heartfelt appreciation to all stakeholders, partners, and supporters of the SAED initiative. “Your unwavering support continues to drive the success of our vision. Let us remain resolute in our mission to build a more empowered, economically productive, and prosperous Nigeria through our youth.”

Responding to the DG’s call for renewed commitment, SV-NED Chairman/CEO HRH Queen Mother Amb. Amina Temitope Labinjo-Ajayi, “Mama Diaspora”, affirmed her organization’s readiness to address youth restrictiveness through large-scale job creation and empowerment.

In her goodwill message, Mama Diaspora thanked the NYSC leadership and highlighted key areas of partnership with the SAED initiative, supported by tangible evidence.

She stated, “Please allow me to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, the hardworking SAED Director Mr. Kehinde Aremu, all directors present, esteemed guests, stakeholders, and members of the NYSC family.

“Today, we gather to discuss the pivotal role of youth in national development, focusing on skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, and employment.”

She announced that SV-NED had obtained regulatory licenses and secured funding from local and international investors to implement projects in housing, mining, agriculture, and energy security—all aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

She also emphasized four critical partnership areas with NYSC: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Agriculture, Housing, and Mining.

Key focus areas include:

Conversion of Petrol Vehicles to CNG and Electric/Solar Cars: Leveraging Nigeria’s gas reserves for job creation and climate action.
Agriculture: Empowering youth with modern farming skills and agribusiness knowledge.
Housing: Addressing housing deficits while creating employment opportunities.
Mining: Promoting youth involvement in solid minerals development.

She called for collaboration in developing training programs, providing resources and mentorship, and building strong public-private partnerships to drive economic growth and innovation.

Other stakeholders in attendance, including representatives from the Central Bank of Nigeria, Wema Bank, Unity Bank, and the Corporate Affairs Commission, also pledged to strengthen collaboration with NYSC-SAED to overcome existing challenges and promote youth self-reliance.

SAED Director Mr. Kehinde Aremu emphasized, “Each of us, within our spheres of influence, must come together in support of youth development, empowerment, and skills training. That’s our shared passion and purpose.”

Resolutions from the Stakeholders’ Conference included:

1. Promoting skills in analytics, digital marketing, software development, agribusiness, and renewable energy.
2. Incorporating mentorship by pairing corps members with entrepreneurs and professional institutions.
3. Enhancing digital literacy through training in Microsoft Office, coding, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and more.
4. Conducting career readiness workshops and networking events.
5. Supporting community development projects that utilize acquired skills.
6. Establishing partnerships with development agencies and faith-based organizations.
7. Monitoring and evaluating outcomes, including employment and business success rates.
8. Facilitating group funding access and improving digital training content.
9. Supporting corps members’ transition into practical, global job environments.
10. Mandating corps employment in public and private sectors.
11. Providing coaching, capital access, and start-up support.
12. Training corps members as business consultants for local community impact.

These strategic actions aim to maximize the impact of the NYSC-SAED initiative and equip Nigeria’s youth with the tools to thrive economically and socially.