The National Youth Service Corps has announced a major overhaul of its Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme, with the introduction of emerging digital skills such as artificial intelligence and mobile application development.
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, disclosed this during the second SAED stakeholders’ summit for 2025, held in Abuja on Friday.
According to Nafiu, the revamp is aimed at strengthening the impact of the scheme and positioning corps members to compete effectively in a fast-changing global labour market.
“The NYSC has embarked on a comprehensive digital transformation of the SAED programme as a strategic response to youth unemployment,” he said.
He explained that the standardisation of the SAED curriculum would ensure greater competence, mastery and digital fluency among corps members, adding that the updated training aligns with current labour market demands.
Nafiu revealed that corps members are also being integrated into the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent programme, alongside access to global remote work opportunities through platforms such as Outsource to Nigeria, NYSC Jobs.ng and the SAED SME Toolkit.
Describing SAED as a cornerstone of youth empowerment in Nigeria, the NYSC boss noted that over 3.18 million corps members have undergone entrepreneurship and workplace readiness training since 2012.
“More than 30,000 businesses have been formally registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission. These businesses are creating jobs, contributing to the Gross Domestic Product and proving that Nigerian youths are capable agents of change,” he said
He also highlighted the recently launched ₦2 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises loan fund for corps entrepreneurs, established in partnership with the Bank of Industry, describing it as a significant milestone.
“This initiative is a landmark achievement in our drive to deepen entrepreneurship development among corps members,” Nafiu stated.
Reflecting on the history of the scheme, he commended the founding fathers of the NYSC for embedding entrepreneurship training into its objectives, noting that the challenge of unemployment has worsened over the decades.
“The unemployment rate in 1973 stood at about 1.9 per cent, but today it is estimated at 6.9 per cent. Nigeria has a large youth population, many of whom lack employability skills,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to remain committed to empowering young Nigerians, stressing that youth development is a national responsibility.
“Equipping our young people is not just a programme; it is a national assignment, and the NYSC is fully committed to it,” Nafiu added.
Earlier, the Director of SAED, Mr Kehinde Aremu-Cole, praised stakeholders for their contributions to skills development across sectors such as technology, creative industries, agriculture and financial empowerment.
“The trainings, grants and mentorship programmes delivered so far are shaping Nigeria’s future through corps members,” Aremu-Cole said.
He called for the creation of special-purpose funding mechanisms to help transform skills and aspirations into sustainable enterprises.
“Together, we are not just running a programme; we are building a generation. Let us keep empowering and believing in the potential of our young people,” he added.
