The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Yobe State has officially launched the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) In-Camp programme for the 2026 Batch 'C' Stream 1 Corps members. The programme aims to equip corps members with vocational and entrepreneurial skills to combat youth unemployment. Yobe State Coordinator, Mr. Okochi Okpara, represented the Acting Director, SAED, and delivered a keynote address, emphasizing the importance of self-reliance and entrepreneurship.
Mr. Okpara urged the corps members to view their service year as a strategic incubation period for their future careers, rather than just a national duty. He highlighted the NYSC's commitment to producing employers of labour through practical training and financial literacy. The programme features a high-tech approach to business development, including the mandatory adoption of the NYSC SME Toolkit, powered by the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Pan-Atlantic University.
The NYSC SME Toolkit is an interactive, data-driven platform designed to track progress and refine business acumen. Active engagement on the platform qualifies corps members for a grant award of N2,000,000 each, based on project performance. The programme has been bolstered by collaborations with partners such as the Kudimata Youth Capital Market Initiative, Outsource to Nigeria Initiative (OTNI), and the NIYA Gigs platform.
The "REAL MMM" initiative, a financial literacy campaign, was introduced to teach corps members to "Make, Manage, and Multiply" money. The programme aims to provide corps members with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the modern global economy. Hajiya Maryam Yahaya, Head of the SAED unit in Yobe State, provided historical context to the initiative, which was conceptualized in 2012 to combat youth unemployment.
Hajiya Yahaya encouraged the corps members to maximize their time at the camp to master at least one trade, emphasizing that the skills acquired serve as a permanent safety net for future challenges. The ceremony concluded with the official declaration of the SAED In-Camp training as open, setting the stage for an intensive period of workshops, mentorship, and practical sessions.
Various resource persons guided the corps members on how to develop their business plans and explained the benefits of the programme. The Yobe State leadership emphasized that the path to wealth creation begins with the decision to learn and the courage to innovate. The programme is expected to equip corps members with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in their future careers.
The SAED programme is a significant initiative aimed at promoting self-reliance and entrepreneurship among corps members. The programme's impact is expected to be felt beyond the service year, as corps members are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the modern global economy. Key points include:
Key points
- The NYSC has launched the SAED programme to equip corps members with vocational and entrepreneurial skills.
- The programme features a high-tech approach to business development, including the NYSC SME Toolkit.
- Corps members can qualify for a grant award of N2,000,000 each based on project performance.
