News
NYSC to Deepen Impact of Skill Acquisition on Corps Members
By Joel Ajayi
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has unveiled plans to enhance its collaboration with key stakeholders and expand its initiatives aimed at empowering Corps Members for self-reliance and entrepreneurship.
Speaking at the 2025 Strategic Meeting/Debriefing of State Officers held in Abuja, NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, emphasized the Scheme’s strategic engagement with various partners, including the Bank of Industry (BOI) through its Graduate Entrepreneurship Fund (GEF), the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), and private sector organizations such as SV-NED, OTNI, ASOLAR, among others.
General Nafiu noted that these partnerships are designed to go beyond theoretical learning by exposing Corps Members to real-world business environments. “These collaborations will equip Corps Members with entrepreneurial and leadership skills necessary for a successful transition into self-employment,” he said.
He highlighted that formal frameworks such as Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and comprehensive action plans with agencies like SMEDAN have been put in place to operationalize these efforts.
“By joining forces with these stakeholders, we aim to bridge the gap between education and employment, and ultimately empower Corps Members to become employers of labor,” he added.
The Director General, represented by Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad, Director of the Human Resources Management Department, stressed NYSC’s continued commitment to ICT development. He stated that in today’s digital age, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) proficiency is vital across all sectors—from e-commerce to tech-driven agriculture—and that the Scheme is prioritizing digital literacy for both Corps Members and staff.
Also speaking at the meeting, Mr. Kehinde Aremu-Cole, Director of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Department, reiterated that the SAED programme remains central to youth empowerment and national integration.
He said the theme of the meeting, “Operationalizing Excellence: A New Framework for Corps Empowerment through Policy Innovation, Efficiency, and Sustainability”, is a clarion call to SAED Schedule Officers to adopt innovative approaches to service delivery.
“We must move beyond traditional methods and focus on creating sustainable and efficient systems that truly empower our Corps Members,” Aremu-Cole stated.
He urged SAED Officers to improve service quality, ensure the programme exceeds its goals, and remain responsive to the evolving needs of participants.
He also noted recent developments within the SAED framework, including the review of skill sets, implementation strategies, updated workbooks, and curriculum development—designed to enhance impact and adaptability.
Aremu-Cole further advised SAED Officers to guide Corps Members on using the NYSC Integrated System (NIS), emphasizing the importance of skill selection through their dashboards for improved tracking and efficiency.
“You are expected to serve as mentors to Corps entrepreneurs—especially those who are beneficiaries of loans and grants from our partners—and as role models, inspiring active participation in post-camp training and other SAED activities,” he concluded.
News
Nigeria at 66: ‘We Must Not Lose Faith in Nigeria’ — FCC Boss Omidiran
Joel Ajayi
The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Honorable Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, has called on Nigerians to use the occasion of the nation’s 66th Independence Anniversary to renew their faith in Nigeria, strengthen national unity and recommit themselves to building a more inclusive and prosperous country.
In her 66th Independence Day message, Hon. Omidiran described October 1 as more than a celebration of freedom, saying the anniversary provides an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the country’s journey, acknowledge its progress and challenges, and renew the collective determination to build a nation where every citizen has a sense of belonging.
According to the FCC Executive Chairman, the Federal Character Principle remains particularly important to the quest for national cohesion because equitable representation promotes a sense of ownership and confidence in the Nigerian project.
“Nigeria is a nation of great diversity and
enormous potential. Our responsibility is to ensure that this diversity becomes a bridge that connects us rather than a barrier that separates us. Every Nigerian deserves to feel that he or she belongs to this country and has a role to play in its development,” Omidiran said.
The FCC boss called on government institutions at all levels to remain committed to fairness, equity, accountability and inclusive governance, while urging citizens to support efforts aimed at strengthening national institutions and promoting peaceful coexistence.
“We must not lose faith in Nigeria. The challenges before us are real, but so are the opportunities and the enormous human and natural resources available to us. Every citizen has a responsibility to contribute his or her own quota to building the Nigeria we desire,” she stated.
The FCC Executive Chairman also urged young Nigerians to remain committed to acquiring knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship, innovation, sports and other productive ventures, describing the youth as critical stakeholders in the country’s future.
“As we celebrate 66 years of independence, let us remember that the Nigeria we want cannot be built by government alone. It requires the commitment of all of us – leaders and citizens, young and old, from every part of the federation. Together, we can build a Nigeria where justice, fairness, opportunity and peace are available to all,” she said.
Omidiran reaffirmed the FCC’s commitment to the effective discharge of its constitutional mandate and to supporting efforts that promote equitable representation and inclusive national development across the federation.
The former lawmaker wished Nigerians at home and abroad a peaceful and memorable 66th Independence Anniversary, praying for continued peace, stability, prosperity and progress for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Our differences should never be greater than our common identity as Nigerians. Let us continue to choose unity over division, service over self-interest and hope over despair. The Nigeria of our dreams is possible if we all play our part,” Omidiran said.
“On behalf of the Federal Character Commission, I congratulate all Nigerians on this 66th Independence Anniversary. May this occasion renew our patriotism, strengthen our unity and inspire us to work together for a stronger, more equitable and prosperous Nigeria. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she added.
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