The 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream I Orientation Course witnessed a major highlight on Monday as the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) in-camp training programme officially commenced at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Wannune, Benue State.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Benue State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs Veronica Garba, ably represented by the Camp Director, Mr Edwin Oghanze, delivered the keynote address from the Director of SAED, NYSC Headquarters Abuja, Mr Aremu Kehinde.
In his message, Mr Aremu congratulated the corps members on their successful call-up to serve the nation and urged them to seize the opportunity provided by the SAED programme to embrace entrepreneurship as a path to financial independence and national development.
“The relevance of skill acquisition in today’s world cannot be overemphasized. As opportunities in the white-collar job market continue to shrink, it is imperative that young graduates begin to see themselves as job creators,” he said.
The SAED programme, he explained, was established by the NYSC to equip corps members with hands-on skills and the entrepreneurial mindset required to thrive beyond their service year. The training covers eleven major skill areas including Agro-Allied, ICT, Creative Industry, Cosmetology, Logistics, and Green Energy.
Highlighting federal and private sector collaborations, Mr Aremu encouraged corps members to take advantage of the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, which focuses on digital skills development, as well as the NNPC/Kudimata Financial Literacy Programme, which introduces participants to foundational money management and business planning skills.
A notable development in this batch’s training is the introduction of CrediCorp as a new strategic partner. CrediCorp provides corps members with access to low-interest loans and practical financial literacy education tailored to help them launch small businesses and acquire service-year assets.
Participants were informed of post-camp training opportunities, which include advanced entrepreneurial courses, business incubation support, mentorship, branding, digital marketing, and access to funding through partners like the Bank of Industry (BOI), SMEDAN, and Outsource Global Technologies under the Outsource to Nigeria Initiative (OTNI).
One of the major attractions will be a Business Pitching Competition, where outstanding ideas will win grand prizes, and all corps members will be linked to funding and empowerment platforms facilitated by NYSC’s numerous development partners.
The opening ceremony featured captivating playlets and a motivational session led by Mr James Ogaba of Jamesmike Integrated Farms, who inspired corps members with real-life stories of entrepreneurial success and charged them to embrace the SAED slogan: “One Corps Member, Two Skills.”
As the 10-day in-camp training unfolds, corps members across Benue State are set to acquire life-changing skills that will position them for success and contribute meaningfully to the economic growth of the nation.
