NYSC Overhauls SAED Program to Empower Nigerian Youth and Boost Entrepreneurship
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is set to revamp its Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) training for corps members, standardizing the curriculum to achieve greater impact and better equip young Nigerians for the workforce.
The announcement came via the NYSC’s official X handle on Saturday, citing the Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, who spoke at the 2025 second SAED stakeholders’ summit held in Abuja on Friday.
Digital Transformation and New Skills Curriculum
Brigadier General Nafiu disclosed that the NYSC has embarked on a comprehensive digital transformation of the SAED program as part of its strategy to combat youth unemployment.
The newly updated curriculum now incorporates cutting-edge skills such as artificial intelligence (AI), mobile application development, and digital entrepreneurship. Corps members are also being integrated into the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and provided access to global remote work opportunities through platforms like Outsource to Nigeria, NYSC Jobs.ng, and the SAED SME Toolkit.
Youth Empowerment and Business Impact
Describing SAED as a pillar of youth empowerment in Nigeria, Nafiu revealed that over 3.18 million corps members have completed entrepreneurship and workplace readiness training since 2012, with more than 30,000 businesses formally registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
“These youths are employing others, contributing to the Gross Domestic Product, and proving that they are capable change agents,” he said.
Nafiu emphasized the importance of competence, mastery of SAED skills, and digital fluency to ensure that corps members are competitive in a rapidly changing global economy.
MSME Loan Fund and Partnerships
The NYSC DG highlighted the recently launched ₦2 billion MSME loan fund for corps entrepreneurs, established in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BoI), describing it as a landmark achievement in youth entrepreneurship development.
He also praised the founding fathers of NYSC for anticipating the importance of entrepreneurial training as part of the scheme’s objectives. “Equipping our young people is not just a program; it is a national assignment, and the NYSC is fully committed to it,” he stated.
Stakeholders’ Role in Driving Transformation
Earlier, the Director of SAED, Mr. Kehinde Aremu-Cole, thanked stakeholders for supporting transformational initiatives across technology, digital skills, creative industries, financial empowerment, and agriculture.
He noted that trainings, grants, and mentorship sessions have already contributed to shaping Nigeria’s future through empowered corps members. Aremu-Cole called for special-purpose funding pathways to convert youth skills and entrepreneurial desire into productive enterprises.
“Together, we are not just running a programme; we are building a generation. Let us continue empowering and believing in the potential of our young people,” he concluded.