NYSC DG Urges Corps Members To Embrace Entrepreneurship, Skills Acquisition

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 rather than relying solely on white-collar jobs.

Speaking during an interactive session with the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream I Corps Members deployed to Niger State at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja, where the state camp is temporarily relocated due to ongoing renovations, Nafiu encouraged participants to take full advantage of the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.

He described entrepreneurship as essential in today’s economic environment, advising Corps Members to acquire practical vocational skills capable of generating sustainable income beyond their monthly allowance.

According to him, the one-year national service offers a unique opportunity to develop marketable skills, build multiple sources of income and become employers of labour who can contribute to Nigeria’s economic development.

The NYSC boss also encouraged Corps Members to build lasting friendships during the orientation course, noting that relationships formed during service often evolve into valuable professional, business and leadership networks.

He urged them to remain disciplined throughout the service year, embrace continuous learning and use official NYSC channels to address grievances, assuring them that genuine complaints would receive prompt attention.

Nafiu further reminded the Corps Members to uphold the Scheme’s core values by demonstrating integrity, responsibility and commitment at their places of primary assignment.

Earlier, the Niger State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs Martina Shuaibu Ibrahim, said 783 Corps Members comprising 296 males and 487 females had been successfully registered for the orientation course.

She noted that the exercise had progressed smoothly through the collaboration between the NYSC, the Federal Capital Territory Secretariat and camp officials, while commending the Corps Members for their discipline and active participation in camp activities.