By Tina Omoregie, Abuja
National Youth Service Corps(NYSC), said a total of 48 Corps Members have been empowered with various sums of money to finance their businesses after their business proposals scaled through the different stages of professional vetting.
The business areas cover agriculture; craft and fashion design; education, shoemaking among others.
In his virtual interaction with the Corps beneficiaries on Monday, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim made this disclosure while commending Unity Bank for providing financial grants to Corps Members selected from NYSC Orientation Camps in Edo, FCT, Lagos and Ogun States.
He said the pilot project of the “Corpreneurship Challenge” would create opportunities for self employment and wealth creation and also reduce the increasing number of unemployed graduate youths.
The DG noted that the Scheme is determined to drive entrepreneurial capacity among young graduates and create opportunities for self employment and wealth creation.
Ibrahim who added that salaried jobs are scarcely available appealed to the Corps Members to be determined, focused and avoid cutting corners.
“My appeal to you is to be determined, remain focused and fan into flame the training that you have acquired for your empowerment, as it would later translate to societal development.”
“Be prudent in your spending, avoid indolence and be committed to what the Unity Bank has done for you”, he said.
The Director-General also advised the Corps beneficiaries to do peer review of their successes and restrategise for greater output.
In her remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Unity Bank of Nigeria, Mrs Tomi Shomefun promised a robust partnership with the NYSC Scheme which would empower more youths for self development.
She commended the Director-General for his strong passion for skills acquisition, adding that Unity Bank is expanding the “Corpreneurship Challenge Initiative” to six more additional locations namely; Akwa-Ibom, Kano, Sokoto, Bayelsa, Enugu and Osun States.
Shomefun, who said Unity Bank has been making tremendous impact in youth development specifically congratulated the female awardees and advised them not to disappoint the NYSC Scheme and Unity bank but imbibe the spirit of hardwork and sincerity of purpose.
“Never despise the days of little beginning but hope for greater heights. Take the seed grant that has been given to you to develop yourselves and the society”, she said.
The Director, Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme, Mr Hilary Nasamu advised the Corps beneficiaries to adhere strictly to the template of their business proposals.
He said the Scheme would continue to monitor their progress on quarterly basis.
Nasamu urged them to strive to have two employees within the first eighteen months and four employees within the first two years.
“This is a grant without interest. You must continue to dedicate yourselves to this opportunity and don’t forget to seek expert’s advise at all times”, he added.