The Federal Government has announced a plan to empower at least 5,000 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with N10 million each to fund their entrepreneurial ventures post-NYSC. The Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Ibrahim, revealed this initiative during the inaugural meeting of the NYSC management with heads of Corps Producing Institutions (CPI) in Abuja.
This funding initiative, distinct from the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund program, aligns with upcoming NYSC reforms aimed at imbuing participants with an entrepreneurship mindset and making skills development the core of the program. The minister emphasized the need to strengthen the NYSC’s mandate and make the program more efficient, effective, and beneficial to both the nation and Corps members.
To achieve this vision, the Federal Government plans to institutionalize NYSC ventures as an investment and asset management outfit, effectively utilizing and managing its extensive assets to make strategic investments across various sectors. Targeted sectors for these investments include agriculture, manufacturing, garment making, communication, and digital banking, reflecting the administration’s commitment to youth-led entrepreneurial ventures and positioning it as a crucial step towards Nigeria’s economic growth.