The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is making headlines with its latest “groundbreaking” announcement: a total overhaul of its Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme. The big news? Artificial intelligence (AI) and mobile app development are now on the menu for corps members. But is this just another flashy move, or will it actually change anything for Nigeria’s unemployed youth?

At a high-profile summit in Abuja, NYSC Director-General Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu took center stage, touting the revamped SAED curriculum as a “strategic response” to global workforce trends and Nigeria’s unemployment crisis. According to Nafiu, the NYSC is going digital in a big way, promising to turn corps members into tech-savvy professionals ready for the modern economy. But critics are already asking: is this just talk, or will it deliver real jobs?

“We’re adding AI and mobile app development,” Nafiu declared, painting a picture of a future where every corps member is a digital expert. The NYSC claims this will give young Nigerians the edge they need in a rapidly changing world. But with so many past initiatives falling flat, can this one really make a difference?

In a bid to boost its credibility, the NYSC is also linking corps members to the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and promising access to global remote work through platforms like Outsource to Nigeria and NYSC Jobs.ng. It all sounds impressive, but how many corps members will actually land these coveted remote jobs?

The NYSC is quick to highlight its track record: over 3.18 million trained since 2012, and more than 30,000 businesses registered. Nafiu insists these numbers prove the programme’s success, claiming that former corps members are now job creators and contributors to the GDP. But with youth unemployment still a major issue, some are questioning whether these figures tell the whole story.

To sweeten the deal, Nafiu announced a ₦2 billion MSME loan fund for corps entrepreneurs, in partnership with the Bank of Industry. He called it a “landmark achievement,” but will this money actually reach the young people who need it most, or just disappear into bureaucracy?

Nafiu also took a moment to praise the NYSC’s founding fathers and lament the rise in unemployment since 1973. He thanked stakeholders for their support and urged everyone to stay committed to the “national assignment” of empowering youth. But with unemployment at 6.9 percent and rising, is this just more rhetoric?

SAED Director Kehinde Aremu-Cole joined the chorus, thanking stakeholders and calling for more funding to turn young Nigerians’ skills into real businesses. “We’re building a generation,” he said. But will this generation actually find jobs, or just more empty promises?

With the NYSC’s new focus on digital skills and entrepreneurship, the media is buzzing about a “timely intervention.” But as always, the real question remains: will this latest revamp actually deliver results, or is it just another headline-grabbing move in the ongoing struggle to tackle youth unemployment in Nigeria?