The Director of the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Department, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mr. Kehinde Aremu-Cole, has called for increased institutional support and deeper exploration of the entrepreneurial potential within Nigerian tertiary institutions, emphasizing that doing so could significantly reduce unemployment and drive sustainable national development.
Mr. Aremu-Cole made this assertion while speaking as a guest at the University of Ibadan Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Fair 2025, held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
He described the entrepreneurial ingenuity of Nigerian students as one of the nation’s most undervalued assets, stressing that proper mentorship, funding, and systemic support are key to transforming them from job seekers into job creators.
“The entrepreneurial spirit of students should be explored deeply and supported. If the right structures are put in place, I can assure you that unemployment will no longer be a challenge in this country,” he stated.
The SAED Director explained that the NYSC’s entrepreneurship initiative was conceived to equip corps members with practical vocational and business skills that foster self-reliance after service.
He highlighted that the programme has produced numerous success stories of young Nigerians who have transitioned into thriving entrepreneurs and employers of labour.
He further urged higher institutions, private organizations, and financial institutions to partner with the NYSC in expanding access to entrepreneurship training, incubation hubs, and start-up financing.
According to him, “Our young people are creative and resourceful. What they need is guidance, mentorship, and enabling systems that nurture their ideas. When students are supported early enough, the result is a productive youth population that drives national growth.”
Delivering his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor K. O. Adebowale, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Professor J. T. Arotiba, described the fair as “a platform for transformation where knowledge meets opportunity and innovation becomes impact.”
He noted that the event’s theme, “Next Gen SMEs: Igniting Ideas, Innovations, and Building Resilience,” encapsulates a shared vision to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs who are redefining the African business landscape.
In his keynote address, the Deputy Managing Director of Providus Bank, Mr. Kingsley Uduehi Aigbokhaevbo, who also co-sponsored the event, reaffirmed that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are not merely business ventures but the “lifeblood of the economy.” While acknowledging their enormous potential, he expressed concern over the persistent challenges confronting SMEs including inadequate capital, limited market access, unstable infrastructure, and regulatory bottlenecks calling for a more resilient support ecosystem to help them thrive.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of a ₦200,000 business grant sponsored by Providus Bank to a corps member, Ojo Abosede Esther (State Code: OY/24C/1653), in recognition of her outstanding entrepreneurial proposal.
The 2025 UI SMEs Fair, supported by Providus Bank, brought together academics, policy advocates, entrepreneurs, studentpreneurs, and exhibitors in a vibrant convergence of creativity, innovation, and enterprise.
The event was well attended by the State Coordinator NYSC Oyo , Mr. Kayode Ola Peters, Assistant Directors and other members of Staff.
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