NYSC, European Union Partner to Boost Digital Skills for Nigerian Youths

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is set to strengthen its partnership with the European Union (EU) to enhance digital skills development under its Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, as part of efforts to improve youth employability and entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, to the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Gautier Mignot, at the EU Mission in Abuja.

Speaking during the meeting, General Nafiu said the Scheme was committed to expanding collaboration with the European Union in areas that would strengthen digital support for the SAED programme and improve the capacity of NYSC personnel.

He stressed that continuous staff development remained essential to the effective implementation of the Scheme's mandate, noting that NYSC was ready to embrace partnerships that would provide training opportunities through seminars, workshops and other professional development initiatives.

The Director General commended the European Union for its consistent investment in programmes aimed at empowering Nigerian youths through skills acquisition and economic development.

Nafiu explained that the SAED programme was introduced in 2012 as a strategic response to rising graduate unemployment, with the objective of equipping Corps Members with practical vocational and entrepreneurial skills to enable them become self-reliant and create jobs for others.

According to him, the initiative has produced thousands of skilled graduates, many of whom have established successful businesses and become employers of labour. He added that the programme has continued to attract grants and support from various development partners.

Responding, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, reaffirmed the EU's commitment to supporting initiatives that promote sustainable development and youth empowerment in Nigeria.

He commended the NYSC leadership for institutionalising the SAED programme, describing it as a forward-looking initiative capable of making significant contributions to national development if adequately supported.

Mignot noted that the European Union collaborates with implementing partners to design and execute development projects across key sectors, including digital technology, youth and women empowerment, agriculture, renewable energy, healthcare and children's development.

The Ambassador also revealed that several European financial institutions had begun operations in Nigeria to improve access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), describing inadequate access to finance as one of the major obstacles facing entrepreneurs in the country.

He added that the European Union continues to support Nigerian youths through educational and academic programmes designed to enhance their employability and facilitate their transition into the labour market.

The proposed collaboration is expected to further strengthen NYSC's efforts to equip Corps Members with relevant digital and entrepreneurial skills, contributing to job creation and economic growth in Nigeria.