In a bid to alleviate unemployment and poverty in Nigeria, a call has been made to Corps Members to utilize the opportunities provided by the NYSC Scheme through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED).

The NYSC Osun State Coordinator, Mrs. Olayinka Abdulwahab made this call on Monday at the flag off ceremony of the 2023 Batch A Stream 1 SAED In-camp training programme.

The programme which contains 12 skillsets, according to Abdulwahab , was targeted at providing Nigeria's graduates with entrepreneurship skills and stop them from being job seekers.

She said, “Dear Corps Members, take out time to explore the business opportunities brought to you by SAED rather than seeking white collar jobs years after graduation.

“Participating in this programme provides a rare opportunity you can't get for free anywhere. leverage on it and be serious with it.”

Olayinka added that 28 hours in the space of 9days would be dedicated to the in-camp training of the skills acquisition programme.

“There will be an inter-platoon skills competition at the end of the programme and winners, at the end of the day, will receive a package and business mentoring. Hundreds of Corps Members have already benefitted," she submitted.

In his remarks, Mr. Aleshinloye Adeniyi, the Head of SAED, said that the programme which was established in 2012 was established to proffer solution to post service unemployment in the country.

He said: “NYSC observed that after passing out of service, Ex-corps Members still go about seeking for white-collar jobs, and therefore had to think of a way to salvage the situation through the provision of a platform for Corps Members to acquire skills in an area of their choice. Today, some of them are seated here in our midst as trainers. They are now job creators and not job seekers.”

A short playlet was also rendered by some Corps Members who are SAED ambassadors on Camp to portray the importance of SAED.

Highlights of the ceremony further included a motivational lecture by the CEO of Classic Infotech Ltd, Mr Solomon Akporkporkpor and an Entrepreneurship Development Programme lecture by Mr Oyekanmi Rasak and Mr Bamidele Olugbenga of the National Directorate of Employment, Osun State.