The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED)

  • NYSC inaugurates skills acquisition centre

    The National Youth  Service Corps (NYSC) in Bayelsa has inaugurated  a centre for its Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the centre is located at Okaka in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

    Inaugurating the centre  on Saturday, Mrs Loto Bolade, the NYSC  Coordinator in the state, described skills acquisition as an  important tool for  economic growth.

    Bolade pointed out that promoting skills acquisition was one  of the objectives of the NYSC as enshrined in the  Act  mandating the scheme to “ enable Nigerian youths acquire the spirit of self-reliance.’’

    She expressed happiness that  corps members had  continued to benefit from the SAED programme with training to acquire  skills in no fewer than 14 vocations.

    “This NYSC Bayelsa SAED Centre is to provide a platform where corps members with various skills can assemble to train other youths.

    “ The centre can also generate funds from its operations.

    “I charge the Assistant Director/Head of SAED to mobilise serving corps members to make good use of the centre for the overall advantage of  service corps and corps members,’’ she said.

    Mrs Ogechi Mba, an Assistant Director and Head of SAED in Bayelsa, gave an assurance  that the centre would be put to maximum use.

    Mba explained that the centre would commence with fashion designing, shoe making and event management units while others would be gradually introduced to cover the 14 skills selected.

  • Enlist in military, NYSC boss urges corps members

    Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ), has urged corps members to consider enlisting in the armed forces.

    Kazaure gave the advice in an interview with the News men on Tuesday at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Sagamu, Ogun.

    The director-general, who inspected various physical and combat activities of the 2018 Batch ‘A’ corps members deployed to Ogun, said he was impressed by their level of discipline.

    Kazaure, who also watched the quarter-guard,  Man-O-War regiment, martial arts combats as well as the  band display of the corps members, said   he was certain that they would excel in the military.

    He described the Ogun Orientation camp as one of the best in the country, noting that it had been persistent over the years in maintaining excellence in the training of corps members.

    “With what I have witnessed here today, I can confidently state that this has been by far the best set of corps members ever received in Ogun State camp.

    “Their level of discipline and adherence to the teachings of their instructors has been excellent and I urge them to maintain the status quo.

    “The orientation programme was designed to help prepare corps members for the challenges ahead during their service year and these ones will do very well to cope.

    “To join the army, there are guidelines. You must be physically, medically and mentally fit.

    “The army will subject you to a lot of exams both written and oral before the final selection. If you meet all the required indices, you will be enlisted,” he said.

    Kazaure also said he was inspired by the display of the band to pioneer the NYSC inter-state band competition for corps members with added rewards for outstanding groups.

    He urged the corps members to be good ambassadors of the NYSC during their service year by promoting the ideals of the scheme.

    Read Also: NYSC DG laments poor state of Ebonyi orientation camp

    Kazaure added that the NYSC would be considering posting more corps members to farms under the scheme in Oyo, Abuja, Bauchi and Kebbi.

    The Ogun NYSC State Coordinator, Mr John Okpo, thanked the director general for the visit while reiterating the commitment of the NYSC in Ogun in complementing the scheme in nation building.

    He said the 2018 Batch ‘A’ corps members comprising 2,513 individuals including 1,161 males and 1,352 females distinguished themselves by arriving very early in camp.

    Okpo urged the corps members to equip themselves with the necessary skills for self-reliance through the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development ( SAED ) programme.

    The NYSC official said the orientation, which commenced on April 19, would close on Wednesday.

    NAN

  • NYSC to include farming as part of primary assignment

    The National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) says it will include farming and crop production as part of the one year primary assignment for corps members from the next service year.

    Mr Bello Ballama, the NYSC FCT Coordinator, said this in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Thursday.

    He said that the move was to help address corps rejection by some corps employers through the engagement of more corps members in all aspects of farming and crop production.

    The coordinator said that the move was also aimed at boosting the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development ( SAED ) Programme.

    Ballam said the scheme was therefore putting all its farms in good condition in readiness for corps members to commence its use.

    “Corps members will be involved in all aspects of farming and crop production.

    “This will not only support skills acquisition of NYSC but also governments plan of boosting agricultural production to improve self-reliance and achieve national growth and development.

    “From this 2018 Batch ‘A’ Stream I set of corps members who are commencing orientation on April 19, we are going to look into all the farm formations and centres to be able to post corps members there.

    “We have farms in the FCT and many other states of the country; the present leadership of the scheme is poised to ensuring the revival of all NYSC facilities including the farms.

    “The NYSC is faced with the challenge of engaging the increasing number of corps members mobilised every year.

    “We therefore, have to take proactive steps towards achieving our mandate and supporting the federal government’s plans for youth development,”he said.

    He said that the scheme was still faced with the challenge of corps members being rejected by organisations they were posted to carry out their one year primary assignment.

    The coordinator said that in spite of discussion the scheme had with corps employers not to reject corps members, the NYSC was still faced with the problem every year.

    He said that some corps employers do not provide accommodation and transportation to corps members who are left to suffer harsh living conditions.

    “We have held a workshop with corps employers and have interacted with them and we look forward to a better relationship and working environment for corps members in the next year,” he said.

    The NYSC had stated that the scheme would adopt agriculture as the major job creator for corps members.

    Some of the farms owned and run by the scheme are located in Benue, Plateau, FCT among other states.

    NAN

  • Acquire vocational, get start-up capital – Ambode

    Acquire vocational, get start-up capital – Ambode

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos on Monday advised corps members to acquire vocational skills to qualify for a start-up capital from the Lagos State Empowerment Trust Fund ( LSETF ).

    Ambode gave the advice at the closing of the orientation course for the 2017 Batch B corps members deployed in the state.

    The governor was represented by the state Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Oluseye Oladejo.

    According to the governor, the objective of the LSETF is to support young people to become job and wealth creators.

    “I am aware that the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development ( SAED ) programme  was one of the activities in which you were engaged during the orientation.

    “I urge you to take your post-camp training serious and acquire vocational skills of your choice.

    “This will qualify you for a start-up capital from the Lagos State Empowerment Trust Fund that was established to provide financial support for Lagos residents and NYSC members serving in the state,’’ he said.

    Read also: Nigeria must create four million jobs annually, says Ambode

    The governor noted that the objective of the National Youth Service Scheme ( NYSC ) was to foster unity among the various ethnic groups in the country.

    “I have no doubt that the orientation course has adequately prepared you for the next phase of your service.

    “You are expected to exhibit good qualities such as tolerance, patriotism, diligence and perseverance in your various places of primary assignment.

    “As you prepare to step out of this camp, I implore you to participate actively in anything that will positively affect the lives of others,’’ he said.

    Ambode called on the corps members to contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of their host communities.

    The state Coordinator of the NYSC, Mr Mohammed Momoh, said that 2,549 corps members participated in the orientation course in the state.

    Momoh said that the corps members were taken through well-structured programmes such as citizenship and leadership training, para-military drills and lectures on self-actualisation.

    He urged the corps members to accept in good faith, their postings to their places of primary assignment.

    The coordinator also advised them not to go on unauthorised journeys outside Lagos.

    “If you must travel, permission must be obtained through the proper channel.

    “I encourage you to be agents of change and good ambassadors in your places of primary assignment.

    “I enjoin you to key into the federal and state governments’ grassroots-oriented programmes aimed at enhancing the socio-economic development of your host communities,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • NYSC DG tasks corps members to adopt entrepreneurship mentality

    NYSC DG tasks corps members to adopt entrepreneurship mentality

    Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, Director-General, National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) has urged corps members to adopt entrepreneurship mentality to be self reliant after service and to attain financial independence.

    Kazaure made the call while addressing the 2017 Batch ‘B’ Stream 1 corps members deployed to Ogun at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Sagamu on Thursday.

    The director-general, who was represented by Mrs Adetokunbo Idowu, a director in the NYSC, said the scheme had adopted some innovations to ensure that corps members were better engaged after their service.

    Kazaure also advised corps members to develop their potential for entrepreneurship excellence rather than seeking for scarce white-collar jobs.

    Kazaure also called on them to utilise the opportunity provided by the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development ( SAED ) programme to acquire additional skills for self-employment.

    Read also: Corps members urged to embrace entrepreneurial skills

    “The NYSC has provided all the tools and support you need to develop your capacity to the fullest, it depends on you, there is no short cut to success but hard work.

    “Of all the programmes outlined for you during the orientation, there is none more important that you must fully participate in than the SAED programme.

    “I want you to create your own jobs by being creative and innovative, you must strive to be labour employers rather than labour seekers.

    “Please don’t look for white-collar jobs, your skills and potential can serve you better in the way of realising your dreams,” he said.

    Kazaure said that SAED programme was packaged through a partnership with public and private sector organisations toward building an entrepreneurial capacity.

    He also urged corps members to remain in their states of deployment and contribute toward the promotion of national unity rather than seeking redeployment back home.

    Also speaking, Mr John Okpo, the Ogun NYSC Coordinator, thanked Kazaure for the visit.

    “We will continue to deploy corps members to all identified areas of needs, especially the rural communities where we shall implement advocacy programmes of interest,” Okpo said.

    About 2,442 corps members, comprising 1,270 males and 1,172 females, are participating in the orientation programme in the state.

    NAN

  • Make skills training compulsory for corps members – NYSC

    Make skills training compulsory for corps members – NYSC

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has urged the Federal Government to make its Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) compulsory for all corps members in the country.

    Mrs Chinyere Ekwe, Head of SAED in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) office of NYSC, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.

    She said that making the training compulsory to all corps members would increase the number of youths trained in various skills targeted at growth and development of the nation.

    Ekwe explained that SAED was introduced by the scheme to enable corps members to learn and develop one or more skills for self-reliance.

    According to her, the initiative was introduced to support Federal Government’s efforts at addressing unemployment in the country, but presently, it is not compulsory for the corps members.

    “This defeats the aim of introducing the programme, because if more youths participate in skills training, more youths will become self-employed, self-reliant and employers of labour

    “If more youths are trained, they will in turn train many others, but in a situation where this programme is not compulsory for them, you find that a lot of them may show lackadaisical attitude towards it.

    “I also think that there is need to reduce the training fee to a minimal rate so that more corps members can participate.

    “The FCT Coordinator, Mr Salawu Abdulrazak, has tried to bring down the training fee to N10, 000 for six-month training and for corps members can to pay in installments.

    “If more is done to support the corps members by bringing down the fee, it will encourage more of them to join,” Ekwe said.

    She also urged the government to support the scheme with provision of materials, saying that training large number of corps members yearly in various skills without materials was a major challenge to the scheme.

    According to her, right now in the camp, hands-on training is free, but there are no materials for corps members to use in the training. We also do not have well-equipped skills centres in the area councils.

    Ekwe commended the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for its effort in providing an ICT center at the orientation camp for training of corps members.

    She urged serving corps members to make use of the opportunity to learn one or more skills in order to become skillful, self-reliant and productive.

    She said that emphasis on certificate was waning in Nigeria, adding that it was therefore why learning a skill or more had become necessary.

    “You will be empowering yourself and other youths by doing this”.

    The NYSC official said that many corps members who had passed through the programme had established businesses, adding that SAED’s partners had also continued to support corps members with start-up capital.

    She said that partners like Bank of Industry (BoI) gave corps members loan as much as N2 million, while the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also had a loan scheme that could give N3 million to a corps member.