The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Olakunle Nafiu, has reaffirmed the Scheme’s commitment to producing a generation of youths capable of driving Nigeria’s economic transformation, as beneficiaries of its entrepreneurship programme received grants worth N12.5 million.
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Speaking at the grants presentation ceremony under the NYSC Foundation in Abuja, Brigadier General Nafiu said the Scheme would continue to equip young Nigerians with the skills, resources and opportunities needed to become self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to national development.
He noted that the NYSC’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme remains a strategic platform for empowering corps members and enhancing their capacity for wealth creation and job generation.
According to him, the initiative aligned with the Federal Government’s efforts to diversify the economy and reduce youth unemployment through entrepreneurship and innovation.
“The NYSC will continue to produce the generation of youths that will shape Nigeria’s economic future. We are committed to nurturing entrepreneurial talents and creating an enabling environment for corps members to thrive in their chosen ventures,” he said.
The Director General commended the NYSC Foundation and its development partners for supporting the empowerment initiative, stressing that such collaborations are critical to expanding opportunities for young entrepreneurs across the country.
He urged the beneficiaries to make prudent use of the grants and remain focused on building sustainable businesses capable of creating jobs and contributing to economic growth.
Also speaking, officials of the NYSC Foundation said the grants were part of ongoing efforts to support corps members and ex-corps members with viable business ideas, enabling them to translate their entrepreneurial aspirations into successful enterprises.
A total of N12.5 million was disbursed to selected beneficiaries, who emerged through a competitive process based on the viability and innovation of their business proposals.
The beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the NYSC and its partners for the support, describing the grants as a major boost to their business ambitions.
They pledged to utilise the funds judiciously and work towards building enterprises that would positively impact their communities and create employment opportunities for other Nigerians.
The event highlighted the growing role of public-private partnerships in youth empowerment and entrepreneurship development, reinforcing the NYSC’s vision of producing productive, innovative and economically empowered young citizens.
