By SANI IDRIS ABDULRAHMAN

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, has called the SAED programme a crucial “Plan B” for corps members to ensure self-reliance.

While addressing 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream II corps members in Kaduna on Friday, Nafiu urged them to fully embrace the SAED initiative during orientation to build sustainable livelihoods.

Nafiu explained that SAED equipped corps members with practical skills to become self-employed, especially when job promised from relatives or access to white-collar employment failed to materialise.

He said the SAED programme was tailored to make Nigerian graduates business-minded, thus reducing dependence on government jobs and promoting youth-led entrepreneurship across the country.

Nafiu highlighted that NYSC was more than a service year; it’s a platform to prepare youth for future challenges while fostering national unity and development across diverse regions.

He said the government’s investment in youth education underscored its belief in their role as drivers of national transformation, urging corps members to value the responsibility.

The Director-General encouraged corps members to go beyond mere participation, urging them to explore meaningful contributions toward national development, even after their one-year mandatory service.

He cautioned against viewing the service year as a vacation, stressing that it should be used to acquire new skills, expand networks, and prepare for future opportunities.

Nafiu lauded Kaduna State for being hospitable, recalling his experience as a camp commandant there, his first NYSC posting, and assured corps members of continued support and safety.

He appealed to the Kaduna State government and communities to maintain their tradition of caring for corps members’ welfare, ensuring their security and well-being throughout the service year.

Nafiu advised corps members to adopt the habit of saving from their monthly stipends, noting that financial discipline is key to making future investments and building stability.

He disclosed that the government had launched a N2 billion loan initiative through the Bank of Industry to support corps members with business ideas and entrepreneurial goals.

According to him, each corps member can access up to N5 million at a single-digit interest rate of nine per cent, repayable over three years, with a three-month moratorium period.

Nafiu described the loan as a significant opportunity to help corps members establish businesses, reduce unemployment, and contribute to Nigeria’s economic productivity and innovation.

He urged corps members to avoid night travel, respect local customs, and use social media responsibly while avoiding political partisanship during the service year.

Nafiu reiterated that relying solely on one source of income was unsustainable, urging corps members to embrace entrepreneurship and skill development as pathways to long-term financial freedom.

Earlier, the State Coordinator, Mrs Efeke Dadaza, commended the corps members for their enthusiasm, encouraging them to actively engage in all orientation activities and uphold discipline.

She said the course introduced corps members to NYSC’s core values, Nigerian culture, paramilitary drills, citizenship training, and skills acquisition to help them transition successfully into the workforce. (NAN)