*Photo:Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, addressing Corps Members in Kaduna*
The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has urged Corps Members to cultivate the habit of saving early in life as a strategy for achieving financial stability and avoiding hardship in old age.
Nafiu gave the charge at Government College, Kurmin Mashi, Kaduna, venue of the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course for Corps Members deployed to Kaduna State.
The NYSC Chief Executive advised the Corps Members to make prudent use of their monthly allowances by setting aside a portion of their income regularly, stressing that developing a savings culture while in national service would help them build a strong financial foundation for the future.
He also encouraged them to leverage the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme to acquire practical skills that could provide alternative sources of income during and after their service year.
Nafiu said Corps Members could use their savings to establish micro-scale businesses immediately after completing their national service, thereby reducing their dependence on paid employment.
He further advised them to develop unique and attractive brand names for their businesses and register them with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) even while still serving.
The NYSC DG also urged the Corps Members to explore opportunities for multiple streams of income, particularly by identifying commodities that are available in surplus in their states of service but are in high demand in other parts of the country.
According to him, such opportunities could be developed into viable businesses if the Corps Members are able to identify market gaps and develop appropriate strategies around them.
Nafiu further cautioned the Corps Members against spreading unverified information on social media, noting that the dissemination of false information could mislead members of the public and cause panic, disharmony and disunity in the society.
He reminded them that NYSC was established more than five decades ago with the primary objectives of promoting national unity, fostering cultural integration and contributing to the development of a better Nigeria.
He therefore urged the Corps Members to see themselves as ambassadors of truth and responsible citizens who must use their influence, including social media platforms, to promote peace, unity and national development.