The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has rolled out a major reform of its Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, introducing a standardised curriculum designed to improve employability and deepen entrepreneurial impact among Corps Members nationwide.
NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, disclosed this at the 2025 Second SAED Stakeholders’ Summit in Abuja. He said the reform is part of a broader digital transformation aimed at tackling youth unemployment and positioning young Nigerians for global opportunities.
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According to Nafiu, the new SAED curriculum now features high-demand skills such as artificial intelligence, mobile app development and other digital competencies. Corps Members are also being integrated into the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative and linked to remote work opportunities through platforms like Outsource to Nigeria, NYSC Jobs.ng and the SAED SME Toolkit.
He revealed that since 2012, over 3.18 million Corps Members have undergone SAED training, with more than 30,000 businesses registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), contributing to job creation and economic growth.
Nafiu also highlighted a newly launched ₦2 billion MSME loan fund, created in partnership with the Bank of Industry, to support Corps entrepreneurs.
Director of SAED, Mr. Kehinde Aremu-Cole, said the programme’s trainings, grants and mentorships are empowering Corps Members across technology, agriculture, creative industries and enterprise development.
