NYSC Strengthens SAED Programme to Boost Youth Entrepreneurship, Digital Skills and Job Creation
By GLEBM NEWS
NYSC says it will strengthen its SAED programme with digital skills, entrepreneurship and innovation to equip Nigerian youths for self-reliance and economic growth.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering young Nigerians through entrepreneurship, digital innovation and skills development, announcing plans to strengthen its Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme to prepare graduates for the future of work.
The commitment was reiterated by the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, during an interactive session with stakeholders at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja, where participants reviewed strategies to reposition the SAED programme as a catalyst for youth economic transformation.
Speaking on the theme, “Transforming SAED: Building a Data-Driven Operating Model for Standardised Delivery, Accountability and Measurable Impact,” Nafiu said the Scheme is aligning its entrepreneurship programme with the Federal Government’s ongoing economic reforms aimed at promoting self-reliance, innovation and job creation among Nigerian youths.
Since its launch in 2012, he noted, the SAED programme has remained a key pillar of the NYSC’s efforts to equip corps members with practical entrepreneurial and vocational skills beyond their academic qualifications.
“The proposed Federal Government reforms align perfectly with the Scheme’s ongoing strategy for SAED, making it not only a skills centre but also a springboard for entrepreneurship, innovation and digital inclusion,” Nafiu said.
The NYSC Director-General disclosed that the Scheme is expanding the scope of SAED to reflect emerging global trends, including artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, digital platforms, remote work, green technology and the creative economy.
He stressed that Nigeria’s growing youth population represents a significant economic advantage if adequately equipped with relevant digital, entrepreneurial and technical skills.
According to him, the NYSC is working to transform the SAED initiative from a conventional skills acquisition programme into a national platform that drives enterprise development, innovation and sustainable economic growth.
Nafiu also called for a future-focused curriculum that prioritises sectors with high growth potential, including financial technology (FinTech), agribusiness, renewable energy, manufacturing and digital technology.
He urged stakeholders to strengthen support for young entrepreneurs through mentorship, access to finance, business incubation and expanded market opportunities.
The NYSC boss further advocated evidence-based evaluation of the programme’s impact, calling for credible data on businesses established, jobs created, income generated and the overall contribution of SAED to national development.
He appealed for stronger collaboration among industries, financial institutions, technology companies, development partners and educational institutions to sustain the programme’s relevance and long-term impact.
“We must strengthen partnerships and adopt measurable performance indicators that demonstrate the programme’s contribution to youth empowerment and economic development,” he said.
Earlier, the Acting Director of SAED, Mrs. Winifred Shokpeka, said the stakeholders’ meeting was convened to assess the programme’s progress and develop a more standardised and data-driven framework for implementation.
She revealed that between 2017 and 2023, corps entrepreneurs accessed more than ₦283 billion in loans and grants through various interventions under the SAED programme.
Shokpeka attributed the programme’s achievements to sustained collaboration with public and private sector partners, including the Bank of Industry (BOI), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Access Bank, Unity Bank, Wema Bank, Fidelity Bank, BAT Nigeria Foundation, NNPC Foundation, and other development institutions.
She emphasised that adopting a standardised, data-driven operating model would improve accountability, transparency and measurable outcomes while enhancing the programme’s capacity to support youth entrepreneurship across the country.
The NYSC said the strengthened SAED framework is expected to produce more job creators, promote innovation and contribute to Nigeria’s broader economic transformation agenda by equipping young graduates with practical skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital and competitive global economy.
