The Reality of SAED
The Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) program is mandatory in NYSC camp. You will spend hours listening to lectures on how to make liquid soap, bake cakes, or do makeup. For many, it feels like a waste of time.
If you already have a high-demand tech skill like coding, data analysis, or digital marketing, learning to make liquid soap might not be the best use of your time. However, if you have zero skills, pay attention.
Choose Wisely
The most valuable SAED classes are usually the tech and ICT-related ones. If you can learn basic web design, graphic design, or advanced Excel, take it seriously.
Post-camp SAED is where the real learning happens, but it often costs money. Before you pay for a post-camp training, ensure the trainer is actually skilled and not just trying to hustle corpers.
In my HR experience, no one will hire you in a corporate environment because you know how to make liquid soap. But if you learned UI/UX design during SAED and built a portfolio, that is a direct path to employment.