The federal government has unveiled the YouthCred Initiative, urging members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to seize the opportunity to strengthen their financial footing in a credit-driven economy.
The programme was officially launched on Thursday at the NYSC Batch B Stream 1 orientation camp in Abuja by Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who described it as a bold step toward genuine youth empowerment.
YouthCred is a national consumer credit scheme designed to provide affordable financing to 400,000 young Nigerians, including serving corps members. For its first phase, the government has earmarked ₦9 billion, enabling eligible participants to access loans of up to ₦200,000 at single-digit interest rates.
Olawande emphasised that Nigerian youths need more than temporary handouts—they require structured credit systems and a government that treats them as partners in national growth.
“This is no longer about cosmetic policies; we are talking about structural empowerment,” the minister said. “For the first time, you have a president who is not just ruling, but leading. That’s the difference.”
The scheme is expected to help corps members meet essential needs, build credit histories, and participate more actively in Nigeria’s evolving credit economy.
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