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Don Solicits more funding for NYSC’s SAED initiative

Published

6 years ago

January 14, 2020

A University Don and Agricultural/Climate Change Expert, Professor Chidi lbe has canvassed increment in stakeholders’ financial support for NYSC’s Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme.

He said this would remove barriers to start-up capital and allow youths to initiate ideas that can boost their agricultural business.

Professor Ibe made this appeal today while delivering a lecture at NYSC Stakeholders’ meeting, SAED Officers’ Training and Debriefing Conference held at the Scheme’s Directorate Headquarters in Abuja.

Speaking on the topic, “The NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development as a Springboard for Sustainable Youth Entreprise in Nigeria”, the varsity don said NYSC programme parades the largest pool of vibrant workforce with lots of potentials in Africa.

Ibe who described the NYSC Scheme as a social protection for youth development within the supervisory framework of the government added that Corps Members are the most vibrant, resourceful, educated and knowledgeable set of youths.

He enthused the need to overcome all barriers in agricultural information and technology.

“SAED is a vantage springboard that should create a conveyor belt system that would promote a successful social cohesion with the rural communities and the nation at large”.

“With Agriculture being the primary source of food and income for Nigerians, development organisations must mobilise resources and climate start opportunities to develop the youths”, lbe stated.

NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim said the Management is committed to developing the spirit of self-reliance in the Corps Members by equipping them with the necessary skills for self-employment and wealth creation.

He appealed to both the existing and prospective partners to support the Scheme’s renewed efforts to take the implementation of the SAED programme to the next level either through material, technical or financial support.

The NYSC boss also advocated for the inclusion of mandatory Entrepreneurship Education in the curricular of Universities and other tertiary institutions in the country.

“We will appreciate interventions towards inadequate structure for the implementation of a national skill and vocational training framework curriculum, inadequate funding of the Skills Acquisition programme, lack of quality business plans to attract the desired funding support for aspiring Corps Entrepreneurs among others”, the DG said.

Ibrahim listed some of the accomplishments of the SAED programme to include; the sensitization of over One Million Four Hundred Thousand Corps Members on Entrepreneurship Development with over Six Hundred Thousand receiving various levels of training while a good number have established their businesses as successful employers of labour.

He added that the completed mega Skills Acquisition Centre for the North-East Zone by Access Bank Plc has been put into use while work is on-going at the North-West SAED Centre in Jigawa State and the construction of the South-West Skill Acquisition Centre in Ekiti State is at completion stage.

“Our confidence in the limitless opportunities available in the SAED programme for our youths remains unshakeable. We will not relent in advocacy and partnership drive of this nature as a core strategy of the programme”.

“With over 350,000 graduates youths being mobilised annually, NYSC remains the most critical influencer of Nigerian youths as agents of unity, peace and development. It is our hope that other stakeholders will also support this initiative for the benefit of our youth in particular and as the nation as a whole”, the DG added.

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Featured

Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

1 week ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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