The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme is strategically aimed at reducing unemployment among Nigerian graduates and encouraging them to become entrepreneurs, according to the NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu.
The NYSC DG made the statement in Afikpo, Ebonyi State, while addressing Corps Members deployed to the state for the 2026 Batch B Stream II service year.
Why NYSC Introduced SAED
According to General Nafiu, the SAED programme was introduced into the NYSC orientation course curriculum in 2012 as a response to the growing challenge of unemployment among young graduates.
He explained that government cannot provide conventional white-collar employment opportunities for every young person, making skills development and entrepreneurship important pathways towards self-reliance.
The Director General said the NYSC Management had anticipated the unemployment challenge and introduced SAED to equip Corps Members with practical skills that could help them establish businesses and create employment opportunities.
DG Urges Corps Members to Embrace Skills Training
General Nafiu encouraged the Corps Members to take the SAED training seriously, both during their orientation camp experience and after leaving camp.
He urged them to acquire skills that can complement their university certificates and provide opportunities for them to become financially independent after completing their national service.
The NYSC boss also pointed to the success stories of young Nigerians who, according to him, have built successful businesses after participating in the SAED programme.
He therefore encouraged the Corps Members to see the training as an opportunity to develop practical abilities that could become the foundation for future businesses and employment creation.
NYSC Highlights National Unity Mandate
Beyond skills acquisition, the NYSC Director General reminded the Corps Members that national unity and integration remain central to the Scheme's mandate.
He encouraged the young graduates to interact freely with colleagues from different socio-cultural, educational and religious backgrounds.
General Nafiu urged them to use their service year as an opportunity to understand and appreciate the diversity of Nigeria.
Corps Members Asked to Respect Host Communities
The NYSC DG also advised Corps Members to respect the customs and traditions of the communities where they are posted for their primary assignments.
He explained that showing respect for the culture of host communities can help Corps Members build trust, gain acceptance and enjoy goodwill during their service year.
He further encouraged them to make efforts to understand the culture of their host communities, including learning the local language, wearing traditional attire where appropriate and experiencing local foods.
According to him, these steps can help strengthen the relationship between Corps Members and members of their host communities.
Ebonyi Orientation Camp Activities Going Smoothly
Earlier, the NYSC Ebonyi State Coordinator, Mrs. Pat Maidariya, reported that activities at the orientation camp were progressing smoothly.
She disclosed that Corps Members had been actively participating in the various orientation course activities.
The State Coordinator also stated that camp officials were working together to ensure the successful conduct of the orientation exercise.
Importance of SAED to Corps Members
The NYSC SAED programme provides Corps Members with an opportunity to look beyond traditional employment after graduation and explore entrepreneurship and practical skills.
For the 2026 Batch B Stream II Corps Members currently undergoing orientation in Ebonyi State, the NYSC leadership has encouraged them to make effective use of the training opportunities available to them.
The message from the NYSC Director General is that acquiring employable skills, developing entrepreneurial abilities and building useful networks can help young graduates become more self-reliant while contributing to job creation.
As Corps Members proceed with their service year, they have also been encouraged to uphold the values of national unity, cultural understanding and peaceful integration that form part of the objectives of the NYSC programme.
Post a Comment