NYSC Urges Corps Members to Embrace Skills Acquisition SAED for Job Creation

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has encouraged corps members to take full advantage of the opportunities provided through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme to become job creators rather than job seekers.

This call was made by the SAED National Director, Mr. Kehinde Aremu, during the flag-off ceremony of the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Stream II SAED in-camp training programme, held at the NYSC camp in Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State on Monday.

Aremu explained that the SAED initiative was created to provide corps members with the necessary skills to succeed, particularly in the face of Nigeria’s high unemployment rates. He noted that acquiring practical skills was crucial for their future success, especially as many graduates struggle to secure traditional white-collar jobs.

“The significance of acquiring skills in today’s world cannot be overemphasised, as we continue to face high unemployment rates driven, in part, by the growing number of graduates without corresponding job opportunities,” Aremu said. “The over-reliance on limited white-collar jobs has prompted the establishment of the SAED initiative.

It is designed to address these challenges and empower you to become self-sufficient, innovative, and capable of contributing to Nigeria’s economic development as job creators.”

The SAED programme, according to Aremu, aims to equip young graduates with the skills and resources needed for successful entrepreneurship, thereby enhancing national development.

He added that corps members would be introduced to 11 skill sets, each with sub-skill areas for their choice and participation.

He also revealed that participants in the SAED programme could access soft loans through collaborating partners such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bank of Industry (BOI), helping serious-minded corps members start and grow their businesses.

Aremu urged corps members to embrace the skills training, emphasizing that it would be invaluable in the absence of white-collar job opportunities. “Equipping yourselves with these skills will ensure that you are not left behind in the competitive job market,” he stated.

The NYSC Benue State Coordinator, Mrs. Veronica Garba, also praised the SAED programme, urging corps members to leverage the opportunity to become self-sufficient and potentially employers of labour after completing their service year.

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“The SAED initiative is a game-changer. It provides corps members with the tools to carve out their own paths and contribute to Nigeria’s economic development,” Garba said. “We hope that every corps member will take full advantage of this platform to secure their future.”

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A cross-section of corps members at the event expressed enthusiasm about the SAED programme.

Miss Maureen Michael, a graduate of the University of Calabar, commended the NYSC for the initiative, saying she no longer has to wait for government employment after her service year.

“The SAED programme has opened my eyes to countless opportunities,” Michael said. “I now have the skills to start my own business and earn money without relying on a government job.”

Similarly, Mr. Solomon Oke, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, expressed his excitement, stating that SAED has provided him with the tools to become a chief executive officer after completing his service.

Motivational lectures were also delivered by representatives from the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and Miss Mary Adoche, an ex-corps member turned SAED facilitator, who shared her experiences of turning her skills into a successful business.

With the SAED programme, the NYSC continues to provide corps members with opportunities to gain valuable skills, making them more employable and self-sufficient as they contribute to Nigeria’s growth and development.