The Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, introduced in 2012 into the orientation course curriculum of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is strategically designed to curb unemployment and as well promote entrepreneurship among Nigerian graduates.

The Director General of NYSC, Brig Gen Olakunle Nafiu, made this assertion at Afikpo, while addressing Corps members deployed to Ebonyi State for the 2026 Batch B Stream II service year.

DG Nafiu told his audience the reality on ground that no government all over the world has the ability to provide white collar jobs for all its young population.

The Director General also urged full participation in SAED for self-reliance and job creation, while explaining the rationale behind the advent of the programme in the NYSC.

Nafiu’s speech reinforced the NYSC’s core mandate of national unity, advising corps members to respect host community customs, learn local languages, and integrate fully during their service year.

“Long time ago, NYSC Management in its wisdom foresaw the challenge of unemployment we are facing today, that was why it designed and introduced the SAED programme to address unemployment and foster entrepreneurship” he restated.

He therefore urged the Corps members to embrace the SAED training both in and out of camp to be able to establish businesses through which they would be self-reliant and also create jobs after national service.

He reiterated that there are countless testimonies of young Nigerians who have become successful enterpreneurs after passing through the SAED programme.

Speaking further, Brigadier General Nafiu disclosed that the core mandate of the NYSC is fostering of national unity and integration, and implored the young graduates to imbibe these tenets and showcase same by relating freely with their colleagues drawn from different socio-cultural, educational and religious backgrounds.

He equally enjoined them to respect the customs and traditions of their host communities, when posted to places of primary assignment at the end of the orientation course.

“According due respect to the customs and traditions of the members of your host community is one major way of earning their trust and confidence, and that would attract goodwill and hospitality for you” Nafiu emphasised.

He encouraged them to inculcate the culture of their hosts, laying emphasis on the need to learn the hosts’ language, adorn their traditional regalia and also eat their local delicacies.

Earlier, NYSC Ebonyi State Coordinator, Mrs. Pat Maidariya reported that all orientation course activities were going on smoothly, with Corps members participating maximally.

Maidariya also stated that all Camp officials were working in synergy for the overall success of the exercise.