The NYSC Osun State Coordinator, Mr Ayodele Adegoke has charged the 1200 corps members deployed for the 2019 Batch C stream II orientation course to embrace skills acquisition as the way out of unemployment and poverty.
He gave the charge on Wednesday at the flag off ceremony of the in camp training of the skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development programme at the Permanent Orientation Camp, Ede.
Mr Adegoke highlighted the benefits of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme (SAED), some of which includes; cultivating the culture of entrepreneurship, building capacities to identify opportunities in creating wealth from situations around, identifying business skills, gathering information on funding opportunities, providing technical assistance to prospective employees.
Furthermore, he explained that the in-camp training will last for 10 days and will continue with the post-camp training which according to him is mandatory for corps members to participate in.
Also, Adegoke implored already certified entrepreneurs among the corps members not to be left out of the programme, but instead participate in learning skills other than the ones they already know. According to him “being skillful in one area, doesn’t mean you can’t participate in others”.
On funding, the state coordinator assured corps members that NYSC is in partnership with several organizations that grants soft loans. He mentioned organisations such as: Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture, Central Bank of Nigeria, among others, who will be present to enlighten corps members on the criteria required in other to access such loans.
On a final note he encouraged corps members to fully participate in every aspect of the programme, according to him, “this is a golden opportunity for you, use it in both wealth and job creation”.
Speaking earlier on, the Head of Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, Mrs Olufunmilayo Femi-Ajayi, in her introductory remark informed corps members on how the state employed the services of the best professionals in their respective fields in training them.
Femi-Ajayi stated that the SAED programme has been a source of empowerment for youths since its creation in 2012′ and confirmed how it has empowered thousands in becoming excellent entrepreneurs.
She charged the corps members to take the programme seriously and ensure to participate actively without distraction, according to her, “when coming, come alone to avoid the distraction of friends”.
