With thousands of young Nigerians approaching the end of their national service without guaranteed employment, the Federal Government is pushing corps members to consider entrepreneurship as an alternative to joining the crowded job market.
The message was at the heart of a nationwide business training programme launched by the Federal Ministry of Finance for members of the 2026 Batch C Stream 1 of the National Youth Service Corps.

Through the YOUWIN! Project Implementation Unit, the ministry is taking entrepreneurship training to NYSC orientation camps across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The initiative, themed “How to Plan, Start and Grow Your Business,” seeks to equip corps members with the knowledge to identify market opportunities, develop business ideas and establish enterprises capable of generating income and employment.

The Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Federal Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, urged the participants to stop viewing paid employment as their only route to economic survival.
He challenged them to develop the skills and confidence to turn opportunities into viable businesses, describing entrepreneurship as a potential driver of youth development and national economic growth.
Danjuma said young Nigerians equipped with entrepreneurial knowledge could improve their livelihoods, create jobs and contribute to the development of their communities.
But the training goes beyond encouraging corps members to open businesses. It also seeks to prepare them for the practical challenges of running one.

The Permanent Secretary stressed the need for proper planning, discipline, perseverance and continuous learning, warning implicitly against treating business ownership as a shortcut to financial success.

The Director of YOUWIN! at the ministry, Ahmed Ghazali, said participants would receive training in business idea generation, opportunity identification, business planning, market analysis and financial management.
Other areas include branding, marketing, customer acquisition, digital business tools and risk management. Corps members are also being exposed to legitimate business opportunities and support programmes.
The programme’s lead consultant said the objective was to help participants translate their skills, ideas and resources into viable economic ventures.

He cautioned against starting businesses without understanding customer needs, market conditions and the financial commitments involved.

The NYSC Head of Training urged corps members to take advantage of the programme, saying their service year should be about acquiring practical skills, knowledge and useful networks, not merely collecting certificates.
The nationwide exercise signals the government’s push to make entrepreneurship a more prominent part of young Nigerians’ transition from school to working life.
However, the ultimate test will be whether the training helps participants establish sustainable businesses, secure the resources they need to operate, and create jobs after leaving the orientation camps.