The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the European Union (EU) are set to strengthen collaboration on digital skills development and capacity building aimed at enhancing youth empowerment and entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
According to an official statement signed by the Director, Information and Public Relations of the NYSC, Caroline Embu, the Director General of the Scheme, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, at the EU Mission in Abuja.
General Nafiu said the partnership would focus on providing digital support for the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, noting that staff capacity development remains essential to the effective implementation of the Scheme’s mandate. He stated that the NYSC is committed to embracing collaborations that will strengthen the professional development of its personnel through seminars, workshops and other capacity-building initiatives.
He commended the European Union for its sustained investment in programmes that promote youth skills development and economic empowerment across Nigeria.
The NYSC Director General explained that the SAED programme was introduced in 2012 to address the rising rate of graduate unemployment by equipping Corps Members with practical and entrepreneurial skills needed for self-reliance and job creation. He noted that the initiative has produced thousands of successful entrepreneurs while attracting grants and support from several development partners.
Speaking during the visit, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, said the EU works with implementing partners to design and execute development projects across critical sectors.
He commended the NYSC Management for institutionalising the SAED programme, describing it as a strategic initiative capable of making significant contributions to national development and deserving of wider support.
Mignot said the European Union’s priority areas include digital technology, youth and women empowerment, children’s development, agriculture, renewable energy, healthcare and other sectors that promote inclusive economic growth.
The Ambassador also revealed that some European financial institutions have commenced operations in Nigeria to improve access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), noting that limited access to funding remains one of the biggest constraints facing small businesses.
He added that the European Union continues to support young Nigerians through educational and academic programmes designed to enhance their employability and ease their transition into the labour market.
