NYSC, European Union Partner on Digital Skills Development for Nigerian Youths
Oru Leonard
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the European Union (EU) are set to strengthen collaboration on digital skills development to enhance the Scheme’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.
NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, at the EU Mission in Abuja.
Nafiu said the partnership would focus on expanding digital support for the SAED programme while also improving staff capacity through seminars, workshops and other professional development initiatives to boost the Scheme’s effectiveness.
He commended the European Union for its sustained investment in Nigerian youths, noting that its commitment to skills development and economic empowerment aligns with the objectives of the NYSC.
The Director-General explained that the SAED programme was introduced in 2012 to address graduate unemployment by equipping Corps Members with practical vocational and entrepreneurial skills. According to him, the initiative has trained thousands of Corps Members, many of whom have gone on to establish successful businesses and create jobs, while also attracting grants and support from development partners.
Speaking during the meeting, EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, praised the NYSC for institutionalising the SAED programme, describing it as a strategic initiative with significant potential to drive national development.
Mignot said the European Union remains committed to supporting projects in key sectors, including digital technology, youth and women empowerment, agriculture, renewable energy, healthcare and education, through partnerships with implementing agencies.
He also revealed that some European financial institutions have begun operations in Nigeria to improve access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), noting that inadequate financing remains one of the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs.
The ambassador added that the EU continues to invest in educational and academic programmes aimed at improving the employability of young Nigerians and easing their transition into the labour market.
The planned collaboration is expected to strengthen digital skills training for Corps Members and expand opportunities for youth entrepreneurship and employment across Nigeria.
