The Wife of the President, Dr (Mrs) Aisha Buhari has appealed for more financial support from good-spirited individuals and corporate organisations for Corps Entrepreneurs.
She said more funding for NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme would enable Corps Members excel in their chosen business vocations.
Aisha Buhari stated this today in her address as the Special Guest of Honour, while declaring the 2021 NYSC SAED Festival closed in Abuja.
She said the current focus on youth entrepreneurship through SAED has taken the Scheme’s relevance to a higher level.
“I therefore call on captains of industries and financial institutions to grant more access to more credit facilities and venture capitals to these Corps Members to be exceptional.
“There is no doubt that the Corps Members have fully imbibed the spirit of hardwork, self-reliance and patriotism, especially in the face of the current global economic realities.
“I appeal to all of you not to rest on your oars, but continue to expand your horizons to become role models to thousands of youths coming after you”, she said.
Mrs Aisha Buhari, whose address was read at the ceremony by the Wife of the Vice-President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo said the SAED Festival underscored the fact that in its forty-eight years of existence, the NYSC Scheme has continued to play a significant role in nation building, especially in promoting national unity and integration of the country.
She also commended the Scheme for providing manpower for the critical sectors of the economy.
Mrs Buhari said the level of skills and quality of products on the exhibition stand attest to the fact that Nigeria has lots of potential manpower in its youths, adding that, that is why the FG set up several youth empowerment programmes which have recorded tremendous success
She commended the NYSC Management and Director-General,Brig General Shuaibu Ibrahim, for their doggedness in sustaining the SAED programme, including other laudable achievements of the Scheme.
The President’s wife also congratulated the NYSC Staff and Corps Members for their passion which gave rise to the success of the three- day festival.
NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim in his address said Management is committed to raising the profile of the SAED programme and deepen its impact, not only on the individual Corps trainees, but also on national economy.
He said the SAED programme came into being in 2012 as a platform for the NYSC to contribute towards tackling the challenge of unemployment among the teeming graduate youths.
“We have continued in our strides for the success of the programme with the support of partners such as the Bank of Industry, Access Bank, Unity Bank, Leventis Foundation Nigeria, British-American Tobacco Foundation and others too numerous to mention.
“Part of our collaborations are empowerment of Corps Members with financial grants and loans for the actualization of their business plans, as well as the establishment of zonal skill training centres across the country”He said.
He said successive batches of Corps Members have shown more than a passing interest in the SAED programme, adding that, many have been able to establish and successfully nurture their own businesses.
“Since the institutionalization of the SAED programme, up to One Million, Four Hundred and Nine Thousand Corps Members have been sensitized on the need for self-empowerment.
“Out of these, Seven Hundred and Sixty-Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty Seven have so far completed the full skill and entrepreneurship training, while up to eighteen thousand, six hundred and eighty two have set up businesses through self-help, bank loans and grant from donors”, the DG added.
Ibrahim stated further that shortage of logistics for training and limited funding opportunities informed the proposal for the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund.
He said apart from providing adequate operational infrastructure for the success of the Scheme, the fund will make the SAED programme more impactful, especially, through the provision of training logistics and start-up finances to actualize business plans of Corps entrepreneurs.
He then appealed to relevant authorities to assist in bringing to fruition the proposed NYSC Trust Fund.
“The ripple effects will be such that the benefitting Corps Members will in turn provide direct jobs or vocational training for thousands of youths of their host communities, thereby further reducing unemployment, restiveness and criminal tendencies”, he added.
In his address,the Director, SAED, Mr Hilary Nasamu said the event would not only showcase the variety of talents among Corps Members, but also expand the scope of product marketing and business financing.
There were goodwill messages from the Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare represented by Hajiya Amina Muhammed Damian and the Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Mr Olukayode Pitan.
The 2021 Festival themed; “NYSC SAED: A Gateway to National Development”, featured Corps participants from the 36 States of the federation and the FCT, Abuja.
The skill competitions centred on: Fashion and Design, ICT, Tie/Dye, Cake Baking and Decoration, Shoemaking/Leatherworks, Bead Stringing and Design.
