The National Youth Service Corps has restated its commitment to deepening its partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria in a bid to further empower corps members with practical business skills.
The Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, made this known during a courtesy visit by the Director General of SMEDAN, Dr Charles Odii, to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja.
Brigadier General Nafiu described SMEDAN as a key stakeholder in the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme, noting that the collaboration has helped many corps members establish successful businesses across the country.
According to him, the NYSC continues to pursue policies and programmes that promote national unity, integration and socio economic development, adding that SMEDAN has played a major role in supporting corps entrepreneurs.
He said, “SMEDAN is a key partner of NYSC because it has helped in birthing corps businesses that are contributing to Nigeria’s gross domestic product, thereby boosting the national economy.”
The NYSC boss commended SMEDAN for its impact across various value chains, especially in entrepreneurship advocacy, financial literacy, skills acquisition training and helping young entrepreneurs access funding.
He further assured that the NYSC would continue to prioritise the SAED programme and strengthen partnerships with funding institutions to ensure that corps members who go into business have better access to loans and grants.
Earlier in his remarks, the Director General of SMEDAN, Dr Charles Odii, stressed the need to review the existing Memorandum of Understanding between both agencies to further improve the empowerment of corps members with relevant business skills and tools.
Dr Odii disclosed that SMEDAN currently supports over 39 million small businesses across Nigeria and called for the creation of a dedicated NYSC Community Development Service group to increase public awareness of SMEDAN programmes.
He described SMEDAN as the Federal Government’s apex institution for the development of small businesses, with responsibilities that include job creation, poverty reduction and industrial growth. He added that the NYSC remains a strategic partner in achieving these goals.
According to him, early exposure to entrepreneurship is crucial for young Nigerians, especially corps members.
He said, “Right from the orientation camp, we want corps members to become business development service providers.”
Dr Odii also revealed that SMEDAN is ready to train NYSC officials with skills that can help them become business owners after retirement, as part of its broader effort to promote sustainable livelihoods.
The meeting reaffirmed both agencies’ shared commitment to youth empowerment and the use of entrepreneurship as a tool for economic growth and national development.
