The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has reaffirmed the Scheme’s commitment to producing a generation of young Nigerians capable of driving the nation’s economic growth through entrepreneurship, innovation and digital empowerment.
In an official signed statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, Brigadier General Nafiu stated this during the 2026 edition of the National Youth Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Programme (YEEP), themed “Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Courage and Impact,” held in Abuja.
The NYSC Director General said the Scheme remains committed to youth empowerment and human capital development through strategic initiatives and partnerships aimed at equipping young Nigerians with practical skills and entrepreneurial capacities.
He commended the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Activate Success International Foundation, Mrs. Love Idoko-Uloko, for her sustained efforts in promoting entrepreneurship among Corps Members through sensitisation programmes at NYSC Orientation Camps across the country.
Brigadier General Nafiu noted that the foundation had provided business grants to numerous Corps Members, facilitated skills acquisition programmes for over one million youths and created mentorship opportunities that have enhanced youth development.
He described the partnership between NYSC and Activate Success International Foundation as one driven by a shared vision of building a self-reliant generation of Nigerian youths.
“Our mission is clear; to empower the next generation to create jobs, not seek them. We are committed to producing young men and women who possess not only academic qualifications but also practical skills and an entrepreneurial mindset,” he said.
According to him, the NYSC remains one of Nigeria’s foremost nation-building institutions, fostering national unity while deliberately mentoring disciplined, resilient and productive young citizens.
He added that the Scheme’s mandate aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises youth employment, inclusive economic growth, digital transformation and private sector-led enterprise development.
Brigadier General Nafiu explained that the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme is strategically aligned with Nigeria’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) framework, recognising the sector as a major driver of job creation, innovation and local value addition.
He stated that through the SAED programme, many young Nigerians had successfully transitioned from job seekers to job creators by acquiring the skills, tools and confidence required to establish sustainable businesses.
The Director General further expressed confidence that the existing partnership with Activate Success International Foundation would continue to translate the Scheme’s vision into tangible outcomes for Corps Members nationwide.
“Over the years, our partnership with Activate Success International Foundation has delivered real value to Corps Members in the form of grants, mentorship and post-camp entrepreneurial support across the country,” he said.
He assured stakeholders that NYSC would continue to strengthen partnerships that advance the welfare, empowerment and productive engagement of Corps Members.
“NYSC remains steadfast in strengthening partnerships that advance the welfare, empowerment and productive engagement of our Corps Members. Our mandate is unwavering in championing the national aspiration for a prosperous and sustainable Nigeria,” he added.
Speaking at the event, the Founder of Activate Success International Foundation, Mrs. Love Idoko-Uloko, said the organisation had impacted thousands of Nigerian youths, with more than 85 per cent of beneficiaries successfully registering their businesses.
She disclosed that over ₦50 million had been disbursed as business grants to young entrepreneurs over the years and encouraged youths to transform innovative ideas into practical solutions capable of creating value and addressing societal challenges.
In his keynote address, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, urged Nigerian youths to remain visionary, disciplined and committed in leveraging opportunities provided by the Federal Government to build successful careers and businesses.
As part of the programme, 25 young entrepreneurs received business grants of ₦500,000 each from Flutterwave, one of the partners of Activate Success International Foundation, alongside other incentives.
Other speakers at the event included the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, and the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Hon. Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf.
The event also featured an award ceremony during which six partner organisations, including the NYSC, were recognised for their outstanding support to Activate Success International Foundation and its youth empowerment initiatives.
