Reigning Miss World Nigeria, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, has called for a partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to strengthen youth empowerment by promoting entrepreneurship and skills acquisition nationwide.
She made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, at the Scheme’s National Directorate Headquarters in Abuja.
The beauty queen, an ex-Corps member, said her pet project focuses on equipping young Nigerians with practical vocational skills. She disclosed that her fashion design training centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has continued to train young men and women, providing them with start-up kits to enable them to establish sustainable businesses.
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The visit was disclosed in a statement issued by the NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu.
Karibi-George also requested approval to visit NYSC Orientation Camps nationwide alongside her team to encourage Corps Members to embrace the Scheme’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.
She further invited the NYSC Director General, management, staff and Corps Members to her national send-off ceremony scheduled for August 5, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
Reflecting on her own NYSC experience, Karibi-George said participation in the SAED programme during her orientation course at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Kubwa, Abuja, in 2021 inspired her to establish the fashion training centre.
“While in camp, I participated actively in SAED training,
and that inspired me to establish a fashion design centre in Port Harcourt. We train young people and provide them with start-up kits rather than cash to ensure they invest directly in the businesses they have learnt,” she said.
Responding, NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, commended the beauty queen for her commitment to youth empowerment, describing her initiative as a practical complement to the Scheme’s SAED programme.
He noted that the programme, introduced in 2012, was designed to equip Corps Members with vocational and entrepreneurial skills to promote self-reliance and job creation.
“Government alone cannot provide employment for the growing number of graduates every year. That is why we encourage Corps Members to acquire at least one practical skill during orientation and continue developing it after service, creating multiple streams of income,” Nafiu said.
The NYSC helmsman assured Karibi-George of the Scheme’s willingness to partner with her in inspiring more young Nigerians to embrace entrepreneurship as a pathway to economic empowerment and poverty reduction.
He also congratulated her on emerging Miss World Nigeria 2026, succeeding Joy Mojisola Raimi, and wished her success as she prepares to represent Nigeria at the 73rd Miss World Festival in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, later this year.
Nafiu urged the beauty queen to use the international platform to promote Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, describing her participation in the global pageant as a valuable opportunity for cultural diplomacy.
