The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has urged Corps Members to embrace entrepreneurship and vocational skills as a pathway to financial independence and self-reliance.
According to an official statement by the NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, the Director-General gave the advice during an interactive session with the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream I Corps Members deployed to Niger State, who are currently undergoing their orientation course at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja, following the ongoing renovation of the Niger State NYSC Orientation Camp.
Addressing the Corps Members, General Nafiu encouraged them to take full advantage of the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, describing entrepreneurship as an essential tool for navigating the country’s evolving economic landscape.
He advised them not to depend solely on their monthly allowance or the expectation of securing white-collar employment after national service, but to acquire practical vocational and entrepreneurial skills capable of generating sustainable income.
The NYSC Director-General said the service year presents a unique opportunity for Corps Members to develop marketable skills through the various vocational trades offered under the SAED programme.
He also urged them to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset, create multiple streams of income and position themselves as future employers of labour who can contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth and development.
General Nafiu further encouraged the Corps Members to build lasting friendships during the orientation course, noting that relationships formed during national service often develop into valuable professional, business and leadership networks.
He advised them to remain disciplined throughout the service year, take advantage of opportunities for personal development and continuous learning, and channel complaints through established NYSC administrative procedures rather than unofficial platforms, assuring them that legitimate concerns would receive prompt attention.
The Director-General also reminded the Corps Members to uphold the core values of the Scheme by demonstrating integrity, responsibility and commitment at their places of primary assignment.
Earlier, the Niger State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs. Martina Shuaibu Ibrahim, disclosed that 783 Corps Members comprising 296 males and 487 females had been successfully registered for the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream I orientation course.
She noted that the orientation programme had progressed smoothly through the collaborative efforts of the NYSC, the Federal Capital Territory Secretariat and camp officials, while commending the Corps Members for their discipline and active participation in camp activities.
