The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Olakunle Nafiu, has advised corps members to see the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme as a vital “Plan B” for achieving self-reliance.
Speaking to the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream II corps members at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Kaduna on Friday, Nafiu stressed the need for participants to take full advantage of the SAED initiative, which equips them with practical skills to build sustainable livelihoods.
He explained that the programme was designed to prepare graduates for self-employment, especially when promised jobs or opportunities in the formal sector fail to materialize.
According to him, the SAED scheme aims to make Nigerian graduates more business-oriented, reducing dependence on government jobs and promoting entrepreneurship among the youth.
Nafiu emphasized that the NYSC scheme goes beyond the mandatory one-year service, describing it as a platform that builds leadership, fosters national unity and prepares young Nigerians for future challenges.
He noted that the government’s investment in youth education and empowerment reflects its commitment to grooming the next generation of leaders and innovators. The NYSC boss therefore urged corps members to make the most of their service year by acquiring relevant skills, networking effectively, and contributing meaningfully to national development.
He cautioned against treating the service year as a time for leisure, urging participants to approach it with purpose and commitment.
Nafiu commended Kaduna State for its hospitality, recalling his time as a camp commandant in the state which is his first NYSC posting, he assured corps members of continued safety and support during their service.
He also appealed to the Kaduna State Government and local communities to sustain their long-standing tradition of caring for corps members’ welfare and security.
The Director-General further advised corps members to cultivate a savings culture from their monthly allowances, stressing that financial discipline is essential for future stability and investment.
Nafiu revealed that the Federal Government had introduced a ₦2 billion loan scheme through the Bank of Industry to support corps members with viable business ideas. Under the initiative, each corps member can access up to ₦5 million at a single-digit interest rate of nine per cent, repayable over three years with a three-month grace period.
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