The NYSC Osun State Coordinator, Mrs. Abdulwahab Olayinka has flagged off the Skill Acquisition Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) in-camp programme at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ede, on Monday.

Abdulwahab stated that the SAED programme was introduced into the NYSC scheme in 2012, to help Corps Members redirect their focus towards up-skilling, capacity building and wealth creation. She noted that the programme is an important complement to the Corps members certificates of National Service.

She intimated the 2022 Batch B Stream 2 Prospective Corps Members about the duration of the programme, saying it spans a year long; kicks off during the Orientation Camp and continues throughout the service year.

She stated that some of the objective of the SAED programme includes: to cultivate the culture of entrepreneurship and income generation practices; create wealth; identify and develop business ideas; gather information on funding opportunities; gain technical assistance.

Abdulwahab informed PCMs that there are twelve major programmes of the SAED namely: Agro-allied, Food Processing and Preservation, Culture and Tourism, Cosmetology, Information Communication Technology (ICT), Film and Photography, Environment, Power and Energy, Education, Construction, Auto-Mobile and Beautification.

She enlightened the PCMs on the SAED Camp hands-on training agenda, stating that a 28-hour period in 9 days during the Orientation have been set aside for the SAED training, and continues at PCMs' different places of posting.

She mentioned that apart from the training, PCMs will be trained on foundational skills needed in business such as enlightenment on personal qualities, taking responsibility, management skills and other teachings.

She urged PCMs to feel free to contact their Local Government Inspector or the SAED Branch on any matter involving their skill acquisition.

The State Coordinator further stated that NYSC has collaborated with some organisations to help fund businesses of Corps Members. Some of the bodies involved in the funding are Unity Bank, which will organise a proposal writing competition and will award a grant of N500,000 to the winner of the competition; N300,000 to first runner-up, and N200,000 to the 3rd place. Other partners are CBN, Access Bank, Bank of Industry, among others.

She concluded by affirming that she is confident that, with the involvement of PCMs in the SAED programme, they will be able to become wealth creators, rather than job seekers.

Earlier, the Head of SAED, Mr. Aleshinloye Adeniyi said the objective of the programme is geared towards empowering Corps Members with skills, and that registration is at no cost.

He urged PCMs to take advantage of the free programme and be committed to it in order to bridge the gap in the labour hierarchy.

In the same vein, Mr. Tajudeen Jimoh, Branch Manager, Unity Bank, Osun State said their involvement in the up-skill is born from a place of corporate social responsibility for their community, and a drive to put wealth into the hands of future employers of labour.