National Youth Service Corps and Small & Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), are partnering on boosting capacity of Corps Members for job creation and youth empowerment.
The two agencies signed a Memorandum of Understanding to that effect at SMEDAN Headquarters in Abuja today.
According to a statement by Caroline Embu, Acting Director Information and Public Relations issued on Friday in Abuja, the Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General YD Ahmed said the partnership with SMEDAN would avail Corps Members more access to funds to finance their business ideas.
He added that NYSC mobilizes over 400,000 Corps Members annually and equips them with bankable business ideas and vocational skills.
“This means, providing them with start-up capital is a sure way of improving Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product” he asserted.
On his part, the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of SMEDAN, Charles Odii lauded Brigadier General Ahmed for his passion towards Corps Members’ empowerment.
He said the agency would leave no stone unturned in pursuing the Federal Government’s agenda on job creation.
Odii maintained that the MoU would empower Corps Members to fund their business ideas as SMEDAN aims to create 50,000 entrepreneurs in a year.
“Corps Members are graduates and if they are well trained, they will train and also empower other youths”, he added.
