The Director of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Aremu Kehinde, has called on the 2025 Batch A Stream 1 corps members to focus on becoming job creators and wealth generators as they begin their service year.
Speaking through the Benue State Coordinator, Mrs. Veronica Garba, during the opening ceremony of the SAED training on Monday, Kehinde encouraged corps members to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the programme.
“As you embark on this journey, I encourage you to make the most of the opportunities provided by the SAED programme. Strive to become not just job seekers, but job creators, problem solvers, and wealth generators,” Kehinde said.
He described the SAED initiative as a key platform for empowering young Nigerian graduates with practical skills to achieve self-sufficiency. The programme consists of two phases: in-camp training for 10 days, followed by post-camp training at corps members’ various primary assignment locations.
Kehinde emphasized that the SAED programme allows participants to explore diverse skills such as agro-allied, ICT, creative arts, construction, energy and satellite technology, cosmetology, and logistics services, all while learning essential business planning and enterprise development techniques.
Under the programme’s motto, “One Corps Member, Two Skills,” he urged corps members to choose skills that align with their interests. Additionally, he highlighted funding partners, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, microfinance banks, and several commercial banks like Access Bank and Ecobank, that offer financial support to successful SAED participants.
Earlier, Mrs. Garba encouraged corps members to stay focused during the training and to use the opportunity to develop skills that could lead to self-reliance and the establishment of their own businesses after their service year. She reminded them that everyone has a unique talent that can be nurtured into a successful venture.
In his speech, the SAED NYSC Directorate Monitoring Officer, Mr. Owuna Sunday, stressed the importance of the post-camp training, calling it the most crucial phase of the programme. He urged corps members to build on their chosen skills and take advantage of available grants and loans for those who present viable business plans.
