NYSC at 53: DG Pushes for Trust Fund to Boost Youth Enterprise, Job Creation By Raymond Enoch
As the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) marks its 53rd anniversary, Director-General of the Scheme, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has intensified calls for the approval of the proposed NYSC Trust Fund, describing it as a critical tool for expanding youth entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic empowerment across the country.
The appeal was contained in details made available to the press by Caroline Embu, Director of Information and Public Relations of the NYSC, following the Director-General’s appearance at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.
Nafiu said the proposed Trust Fund would strengthen the NYSC’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme by providing start-up capital for Corps Members to establish businesses after service, thereby reducing unemployment and fostering self-reliance among Nigerian youths.
According to him, the fund would also help tackle youth restiveness by engaging young graduates in productive ventures capable of creating wealth and reducing social vices.
The NYSC boss noted that the Scheme has remained faithful to its founding mandate of promoting national unity and national development since its establishment by the administration of General Yakubu Gowon in the aftermath of the Civil War.
He said the deployment policy of the Scheme has continued to bridge ethnic and cultural divides, leading to stronger national integration, inter-tribal marriages, enduring friendships, and greater understanding among Nigerians from different backgrounds.
“The impact of the NYSC on national cohesion and socio-economic development cannot be underestimated,” Nafiu stated.
Highlighting reforms within the Scheme, the Director-General said NYSC has embraced technological innovations to improve service delivery, including the introduction of electronic identity cards, digital record management, online camp registration, and enhanced communication through social media platforms.
On youth entrepreneurship, Nafiu disclosed that the SAED programme, introduced in 2012, has continued to evolve and recently received a boost through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan-Atlantic University.
He revealed that more than 500,000 Corps Members have successfully registered businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), underscoring the growing entrepreneurial culture among participants of the programme.
The Director-General also reaffirmed management’s commitment to maintaining seamless online registration processes for prospective Corps Members.
Addressing infrastructure challenges, Nafiu identified accommodation facilities at orientation camps as a key factor influencing the number of Corps Members posted to different states. He reminded state governments of their statutory responsibility under the NYSC Act to provide and maintain conducive orientation camp facilities.
He commended the governments of Enugu and Osun states for ongoing renovation works at their camps and disclosed that Lagos State is constructing a new orientation camp to improve the welfare of Corps Members deployed to the state.
The NYSC chief further stressed that state governments are expected to provide operational vehicles for State Coordinators and support camp activities through regular subventions, while local government councils should provide suitable accommodation for Corps Members.
Nafiu said he has continued to engage stakeholders at all levels to ensure compliance with these obligations.
On mobilisation, he urged Student Affairs Officers in tertiary institutions to submit the names of qualified graduates promptly to prevent delays in the mobilisation process.
He also disclosed that the NYSC is prepared to align with the Federal Government’s Nigeria Education Repository Databank (NERD) initiative, designed to maintain comprehensive records of Nigerian graduates.
The Director-General advised Corps Members to strictly adhere to security guidelines issued by the Scheme, including avoiding night travel, solitary movements, and unnecessary risk-taking.
He added that the NYSC has strengthened collaboration with security agencies to guarantee the safety of Corps Members travelling to orientation camps across the country.
Nafiu also highlighted welfare initiatives, noting that all Corps Members are enrolled under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) package, which provides access to free medical services throughout their service year.
He explained that NYSC-owned ventures, including farms, bakeries, water production facilities, garment factories, and other enterprise projects, not only serve as practical vocational training centres for Corps Members but also contribute to the Scheme’s internally generated revenue.
According to him, the NYSC remains committed to promoting a culture of entrepreneurship, financial discipline, and self-development among young graduates.
“Entrepreneurship development enables them to develop themselves and also train others to acquire new skills towards self-employment,” he said.
The Director-General added that the Scheme continues to sensitise Corps Members on the responsible use of social media, urging them to promote positive narratives and avoid actions that could bring them into conflict with the law.
As the NYSC celebrates 53 years of existence, Nafiu maintained that the proposed Trust Fund remains one of the most important reforms needed to deepen youth empowerment and sustain the Scheme’s contribution to national development.
