By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The reigning Miss World Nigeria 2026, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, has appealed to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to support her youth empowerment initiative aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and skills acquisition among young Nigerians.
Karibi-George 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, who is also a former Corps Member, said her pet project focuses on equipping young people with vocational skills, particularly in fashion design. She disclosed that her organization currently operates a skills acquisition centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where young men and women are trained and provided with start-up kits upon completion of their training.
She also sought approval to visit NYSC orientation camps across the country with her team to encourage Corps Members to embrace the Scheme’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.
Reflecting on her experience during national service, Karibi-George said her participation in SAED training at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja, in 2021 inspired her to establish the fashion training centre.
According to her, beneficiaries are equipped with tools to start their businesses instead of cash grants to ensure the support is used for the intended purpose.
The Miss World Nigeria also invited the NYSC Director-General, staff, and Corps Members to her national send-forth ceremony scheduled for August 5, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, ahead of her participation in the 73rd Miss World Festival in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Responding, Brigadier General Nafiu commended Karibi-George for her commitment to youth empowerment, describing her initiative as consistent with the objectives of the NYSC’s SAED programme.
He reaffirmed the Scheme’s readiness to collaborate with her in encouraging more young Nigerians to acquire entrepreneurial skills, stressing that self-employment remains a key strategy for tackling unemployment and reducing poverty.
The Director-General noted that the SAED programme, introduced in 2012, was designed to equip Corps Members with practical skills that would enable them to become self-reliant and employers of labour.
He urged Corps Members to take advantage of the programme by acquiring at least one vocational skill during the orientation course and developing it after service to create additional sources of income.
General Nafiu also congratulated Karibi-George on emerging as Miss World Nigeria 2026, succeeding Joy Mojisola Raimi, and expressed confidence in her ability to represent the country with distinction at the global pageant.
He assured her of the NYSC’s moral support and prayers, describing her participation in the international competition as an opportunity to promote Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage through cultural diplomacy.
