On a humid morning in the heart of Osun State, the NYSC orientation camp buzzed with more than the usual drills and parades.
It wasn’t just the end of the SAED training — it was the beginning of a movement. A shift from theory to transformation. A signal that Nigeria’s youth aren’t just waiting for jobs; they are creating them.
Standing tall before hundreds of eager Corps Members, the Osun State NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Agbor Ndoma Obim, did not mince words.
“Salary will never be enough. You must think beyond the paycheck. Learn to create wealth, not just earn it.”
The applause that followed was not just polite — it was personal. It struck a chord in a room full of young graduates facing the harsh realities of unemployment and underemployment in Nigeria.
Alali Miyaene Sophia: A Star is Funded
Among those present was Alali Miyaene Sophia (OS/25A/2155), a soft-spoken yet driven Corps Member whose business pitch for palm oil production would soon change her life.
Her idea? Simple but scalable. Rooted in agriculture but backed by clear vision and figures. The pitch, made during the Wema Bank Corpreneurship Challenge, earned her a ₦800,000 grant — the top prize in the competition designed to support corps-led businesses with growth and impact potential.
For Sophia, this wasn’t just about money.
“This validates my dream. I grew up seeing the struggles of women farmers. This fund will allow me to build a processing hub and empower them,” she shared emotionally.
She wasn’t alone. Second-place winner Adeyonu Demilade received ₦700,000, followed by Adeleke Mosinmiloluwa Mary with ₦600,000, and Kuti Oluwafunmilayo, who took home ₦200,000. All four walked away not just with grants, but with belief — in themselves and in the possibilities ahead.
SAED Ain’t Boring: Turning Training into Triumph
What started as a skills workshop evolved into something deeper — a gateway to independence. The Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme proved that empowerment isn’t about theory, it’s about tools.
The camp’s Head of SAED, Mrs. Adebayo Kemi, drove the point home:
“This is a seed. What you do with it after camp will determine the harvest you reap. This is not the end — it is the beginning.”
From beekeeping and gele styling to ICT and soap production, Corps Members showcased real, working projects. One team built functional beekeeping suits and harvested honey. Another crafted trending Auto Gele styles like “Native Hand Fan” and “Owanbe.” A third turned pineapple peels into organic soap, training 60 people and planning to reach 1,000 customers.
Behind the Scenes: Mentors, Judges, and Grit
The success of the SAED programme is impossible without its quiet heroes — the trainers, facilitators, and judges who nurture these dreams. The business pitch was judged by a panel led by Mr. Babatunde Oshodi of Wema Bank, alongside NYSC’s Mr. Fagbemi Gbenga and Mrs. Olowo Abosede.
Also critical were the Inter-Platoon Skills Competitions, where talents in tailoring, leatherwork, catering, and bead-making were rewarded.
Olasupo Barakat led the tailoring category with a near-perfect score.
Ayooluwa Benedicta aced bead-making.
Ngbogi Kenneth topped catering.
Every product, every display, every pitch told the story of innovation fueled by necessity.
Exhibition of Possibilities: What the Future Looks Like
The exhibition that closed the ceremony wasn’t a photo-op — it was a preview of Nigeria’s future economy. Stalls brimmed with items: tailored outfits, custom handbags, spicy jollof samples, leather sandals, mobile apps, and more. Behind every product was a young Nigerian ready to rewrite the unemployment narrative.
Even the drama performance, “SAED Ain’t Boring,” reminded everyone that “Opportunity comes but once. SAED is gold.”
Conclusion: Not Just Corps Members — Nation Builders
Mr. Agbor’s parting words echoed louder as the crowd dispersed:
“You are not just serving — you are building. You are not just learning — you are leading.”
With platforms like SAED and the support of institutions like Wema Bank, NYSC is slowly becoming more than national service. It’s becoming a launchpad for legacy — one skill, one startup, one Corps Member at a time.
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