The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group) aimed at equipping corps members with financial literacy, investment knowledge, stock trading skills, and savings culture.
The Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, disclosed this during a visit to the Nigerian Exchange Group headquarters in Lagos, where he participated in the Closing Gong Ceremony.
Speaking at the event, General Nafiu described the collaboration as a landmark initiative that would expose corps members to the workings of the capital market and provide them with opportunities to participate in wealth creation through investment.
According to him, in a statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Carol Embu on Friday, the partnership is long overdue and represents a significant step forward for the NYSC, which has been serving Nigerian youths for over five decades.
"Today, we embrace change and a new relationship that will empower our youths with financial literacy and open doors to investment opportunities that were previously out of their reach," Nafiu said.
He added that the collaboration demonstrates a shared commitment to preparing young Nigerians for financial independence and active participation in the nation's economic development.
"This partnership is a commitment to the future by equipping members of the NYSC to participate effectively in the capital market," he stated.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, welcomed the NYSC Director-General and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the scheme and other stakeholders in the financial sector.
Kwairanga praised the NYSC for its longstanding role in promoting national unity and youth development, noting that the initiative would provide corps members with access to diverse financial opportunities within Nigeria’s capital market ecosystem.
"We see immense opportunities in collaborating with the NYSC to advance financial literacy among corps members across the country," he said.
He noted that the partnership would help deepen the culture of savings and encourage greater participation of young Nigerians in investment activities that contribute to national economic growth.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Limited, Mr. Jude Chiemeka, highlighted the vast opportunities available on the exchange, revealing that the market currently hosts more than 323 listed securities.
Chiemeka explained that investors have access to a wide range of investment products and described the Nigerian Exchange as a frontier market that continues to enjoy significant goodwill among investors.
He welcomed the NYSC partnership as a promising beginning and disclosed that the exchange maintains strategic relationships with several leading stock exchanges around the world.
The collaboration is expected to create greater awareness among corps members about investment opportunities, enhance financial inclusion, and empower young Nigerians with the knowledge required to make informed financial decisions.
.