Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy. Corps members getting extra income with entrepreneurship skills
To cut down the high rate of unemployment in the country, the Federal government through the National Youth Service Corps NYSC) launched the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme (SAED).
The scheme was built into the activities during the three week stay at orientation camp since 2012.
To commemorate the Democracy Day, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) NYSC launched the SAED programme for the 2017 batch A stream 1 corps members who are at the Kubwa NYSC camp for their orientation.
The SAED scheme lasts from three weeks in the camp to six months during the service year. Participants could learn skills in ICT, cosmetology, catering, handcraft, agro and allied training, mechanical/ electrical engineering, construction, film and photography, fashion designing, and makeover.
Taiwo Setemi, a corps member of batch B stream 2 serving in Abuja told our reporter that SAED has helped her to become financially independent as she continues her service year.
She acquired the handcraft skill of making carpets and rugs during her orientation course. Taiwo now produce and sell those products which she said fetches quite some fortune. “I was very determined to learn the skill so I put in more effort and commitments by learning the skills after I left camp. Today, I can make a centre rug, throw pillows, bathroom accessories, foot mats and even wall arts perfectly,” she said.
When asked how much it cost her to start making her own work, Taiwo said she started with N15,000, a part of her monthly NYSC allowance. Now she gets money as she produces her products. Taiwo said she does not have to wait till month end before she gets money.
Taiwo said, “I make a centre piece for N12,000, bathroom sets for N8,000 while throw pillows go for N4,000,” she reeled out her product rates. “If a white collar job comes along the way, I will be glad to take it but for now, I will concentrate more on what I have learnt thanks to the SAED programme” she noted.
Eku Bethel Oyabukem, another corps member said he learnt two skills which he is applying. He said, “I learnt two skills, I learnt how to produce paints with local materials, and I can also make a solar energy box generator that could power a room.”
Mrs Funmilayo Adeola, 29, is another empowered mind. Funmi who served in Nasarawa State learnt the craft of making caps, beads and other ornaments. Left with no meaningful employment yet, she has found consolation in the craft which she said fetches her some five figure income every month.
The FCT NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Abdulrazaq Salawu in his comment said SAED was initiated as a response to the global problems of youth unemployment. He said, “One of the objectives of NYSC scheme is to encourage and empower youth to be self-sufficient and self-employed, and become employers of labour rather than job seekers. The SAED will help them become independent even for a life time.”
Director of the programme, FCT NYSC, Mrs. Chinyere Ekwe urged the new entrants to be committed to acquiring skills to become empowered even after the service year.