RismadarVoice Reporters
July 28, 2026
Reigning Miss World Nigeria, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, has sought a partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to expand entrepreneurship and skills acquisition programmes for young Nigerians.
Karibi-George appealed during a courtesy visit to the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, at the scheme’s National Directorate Headquarters in Abuja, where she outlined her vision of equipping more youths with vocational skills to promote self-reliance.
The beauty queen, who is a former corps member, said her pet project is focused on youth empowerment through skills acquisition, revealing that she currently operates a fashion design training centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where young men and women are trained and equipped with practical vocational skills.
She explained that beneficiaries of the programme are provided with start-up kits upon completion of their training instead of cash grants, a strategy she said was designed to ensure they establish sustainable businesses.
“While in camp at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Kubwa, Abuja, in 2021, I participated actively in the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, and that experience inspired me to establish a fashion design centre in Port Harcourt.
“We have been training young people at the centre and providing them with start-up kits at the end of the programme. We deliberately do not give them cash to avoid the temptation of diverting the funds to purposes other than the businesses they were trained for,” she said.
Karibi-George also requested approval for her and her team to visit NYSC orientation camps across the country to encourage corps members to embrace entrepreneurship and take advantage of the SAED programme.
She further invited the NYSC leadership, staff and corps members to her national send-off ceremony scheduled for August 5, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, ahead of her participation in the 73rd Miss World Festival.
Responding, the NYSC Director General commended the beauty queen for using her platform to promote entrepreneurship and youth development, describing her initiative as consistent with the objectives of the scheme’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.
General Nafiu noted that the NYSC introduced SAED in 2012 to equip corps members with practical skills that would enable them to become self-reliant and employers of labour in response to the country’s growing unemployment challenge.
“As an institution, we introduced SAED in 2012 after realising that government alone cannot provide jobs for the increasing number of graduates produced every year.
“We encourage corps members to acquire at least one vocational skill during the orientation course and continue developing it after service, alongside their academic qualifications, so they can create multiple streams of income,” he said.
The NYSC boss assured Karibi-George of the scheme’s willingness to collaborate with her in promoting entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths, stressing that skills acquisition remains one of the most effective tools for tackling poverty and unemployment.
He also congratulated her on emerging as Miss World Nigeria 2026, noting that her achievement reflects excellence and determination.
General Nafiu urged her to represent Nigeria proudly at the 73rd Miss World Festival scheduled to hold later this year in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, while assuring her of the scheme’s moral support and prayers.
“We are particularly proud of you because we regard you as a member of the NYSC family, having completed your national service just a few years ago.
“Your participation at the global pageant presents a unique opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and promote the country’s image through cultural diplomacy,” he added.
