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CBN To Train Corps Members On Self-Employment
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has expressed willingness to provide further opportunities of self-employment for Corps members through its skill acquisition training.
CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, gave the assurance when the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
Emefiele, who stressed the need for sustained efforts at reducing the rate of unemployment, said interested Corps members could attend the CBN entrepreneurship training centres to acquire skills in various vocational areas for economic survival at the end of the National Service instead of waiting for white collar jobs.
Such arrangement, he added, would empower Corps members for the establishment of small and medium enterprises, and contribute to the growth of the economy.
The CBN Governor explained that upon completion of training, beneficiaries would benefit in kind from working tools and support for renting of business offices or workshops, the cumulative value of which represents a loan that would be repaid within seven years with a two-year moratorium.
He recalled that an earlier programme, the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme, was launched by the Bank in 2016 to serve as a springboard for the empowerment of Corps members and other youths for self-employment and wealth creation.
Emefiele assured that the CBN National Microfinance Bank would also support interested Corps members in business financing.
He used the occasion to advocate patronage of the Nigerian textile industry, which he described as the largest employer of labour in the country in the 1990s, as a way of providing more jobs for Nigerians and further developing the economy.
Earlier, the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, praised the CBN for its development finance programmes, noting that the Scheme enjoyed robust collaboration with the Bank in the area of empowerment of Corps entrepreneurs.
Shuaibu said NYSC remained determined to complement the efforts of the Federal Government in stemming the tide of youth unemployment; hence the reinvigoration of the Scheme’s Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme remained one of the top priorities of his administration.
He, therefore, sought the support of CBN for the Scheme through the provision of more zonal skills acquisition centres of the type constructed and equipped for the North East in Gombe with the support of Access Bank.
The Director-General also requested the support of the CBN in the provision of modern equipment for the NYSC farms located in various parts of the country and the Scheme’s garment factories, which all served as training grounds for Corps members.
Shuaibu congratulated the CBN Governor on his reappointment and wished him success in the discharge of his responsibilities.
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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support
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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