When most Nigerian graduates complete their degrees, they’re usually mandated to participate in a one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program. A Nigerian government initiative that is designed to promote national unity, expose young Nigerians to different cultures, and help them transition from academic life into the workforce.
But on the contrary, what they don’t get is a roadmap for handling money. Something that becomes painfully obvious when they’re managing their first real income during the service year.
Seyi Agbedana saw this gap firsthand. After years working in financial services, she co-founded Genzaar with a simple belief that you shouldn’t give someone credit without teaching them how to use it responsibly. It’s this philosophy that drove Genzaar’s partnership with CrediCorp on YouthCred, a loan program specifically designed for corps members that requires financial education before access to credit.
In this interview with Techsoma.africa, Seyi discusses why many financial products overlook the unique needs of young Nigerians, what sets YouthCred apart as a purpose-driven credit solution, and why she believes Nigeria’s fragmented approach to financial education must evolve to address deeper, underrepresented areas like credit, pensions, and insurance.
Q: Why was it important for Genzaar to support the YouthCred initiative? What specific gap did you see this solving for Nigerian youth, especially corpers?
Seyi: I believe the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program offers graduates a valuable transition into the job market. It’s a unique opportunity to explore the country (though sadly hindered in recent times by insecurity), develop skills beyond the classroom, and lay the foundation for both career and personal growth.
The YouthCred initiative aims to equip Youth Corps members with essential knowledge and skills to understand credit, helping them avoid costly mistakes both now and in the future. By providing access to credit early on, the program enables them to begin building a strong credit history and a more secure financial future.
For Genzaar, we brought our domain expertise in credit to develop an engaging training course leveraging our content development expertise in animations, comics and interactive quizzes to make the lessons easy to understand.
Q: Genzaar is rooted in financial education. How did that vision translate into your role in YouthCred? Was it more product-focused, content-driven, or both?
Seyi: I would say more mission focused – we believe financial education and financial services are over indexed in certain verticals like savings and investments. But other critical areas are left highly underserved like credit, pensions etc. This means people are not able to get the right tools to live at various life stages.
Our products are designed to help organizations effectively position their offerings to employees, customers, and the general public, while also providing the tools they need to educate themselves and engage more meaningfully with the services provided.
We provide an AI-powered e-learning platform that enables our clients to create and host their own content, while effectively positioning their products through our marketplace and driving deeper engagement with their audiences.
Q: There are many financial tools targeted at young people, but few succeed. What makes YouthCred different in your view, especially for a demographic like NYSC members?
Seyi: Most financial tools treat young people as an afterthought. They’re rarely designed for their unique lifestage. That’s where YouthCred comes in. Unlike traditional solutions that assume access to money is enough, YouthCred combines financial access with practical education, empowering young Nigerians to make smarter decisions.
For many NYSC members, this period marks their first step into financial independence, yet they often lack the guidance to navigate it successfully. That’s why YouthCred requires users to complete a financial literacy course, developed in partnership with Genzaar, before accessing loans. The course covers essentials like budgeting, credit awareness, and responsible spending. They are kills rarely taught in schools. We’re not just providing credit; we’re building a credit-conscious generation.
Beyond education, YouthCred offers purpose-driven credit tailored to real needs, whether it’s launching a small business, upskilling, or covering relocation and living expenses during service. With flexible, low-interest repayment terms aligned with the NYSC calendar, we ensure the solution fits the realities of Corpers’ lives.
YouthCred isn’t just another loan platform. It’s a stepping stone to financial independence, equipping young Nigerians with the tools they need to thrive.
Q: How does YouthCred tie into Genzaar’s broader vision of financial inclusion and literacy for all? Would you say this is a pilot or a long-term commitment to serving youth?
Seyi: At Genzaar, we believe access without understanding is a missed opportunity. That’s why our approach is always education first. We want people to not only access financial tools but to understand and use them wisely.
With YouthCred, we saw an opportunity to reach a critical and often underserved group: NYSC members. Many are just beginning their financial journey, and helping them form healthy financial habits early can change the trajectory of their lives. So, we didn’t just partner to distribute loans. We developed the entire financial literacy curriculum that underpins the program. That way, credit becomes a learning experience, not a liability.
As for whether it’s a pilot or a long-term commitment, this is definitely a long-term play. YouthCred is just the beginning. We see this as a scalable model for youth-centered financial empowerment.
Q: You’ve linked YouthCred with Eduworld – Genzaar’s financial education platform. Why was it important to integrate learning with access to credit?
Seyi: At Genzaar, we believe financial inclusion isn’t just about access, but understanding. That’s why we integrated Eduworld into YouthCred: because young people shouldn’t just get credit, but they should know how to use it wisely.
For many NYSC members, this is their first time managing money independently. Without the right guidance, credit can quickly turn from an opportunity into a burden. That’s where Eduworld comes in. Every YouthCred applicant completes a financial essentials course, learning how to budget effectively, manage debt responsibly, and build healthy money habits.
At Genzaar, we know money isn’t one-size-fits-all – especially when you’re starting out. That’s why our platform goes beyond loans to become your AI-powered financial companion through this pivotal life stage.
Q: What will Eduworld users learn that could directly impact how they use or repay loans like YouthCred? Could you walk us through what that learning journey looks like?
Seyi: Eduworld users will learn the basics of how money works from budgeting and saving to understanding interest rates and debt management. These are real-life skills that directly impact how they’ll use and repay loans from YouthCred.
When someone signs up, they start with a short, interactive course that covers key financial topics. It’s not just theory, we use real-life scenarios that NYSC members can relate to, like managing monthly allowance, handling unexpected expenses, or planning for a side hustle.
As they go through videos, quizzes, and activities, they earn a certification that shows they understand the basics. Only after completing that course can they apply for the YouthCred loan. So the learning journey is directly tied to the credit journey.
Q: Do you believe financial literacy should be a prerequisite for accessing financial products, especially credit? If so, how does Genzaar strike that balance?
Seyi: Yes, absolutely. It’s like giving someone a car: you wouldn’t hand over the keys without teaching them how to drive. Credit can be a powerful tool, but without the right knowledge, it can also become a disaster!
Which is what most people are facing today, not just in the area of credit but every financial vertical. Here is the stark reality: 10% of Nigeria’s workforce has a pension account! This means millions may be labouring under the assumption they will get family support which is disappearing in today’s economy. The reality is that many young professionals are facing “financial adulthood” with zero preparation.
To answer your question, understanding your lifestage and your financial need for each stage is critical. Understanding financial products and how they help you as a consumer is key to your success in life.
Q: What are the biggest misconceptions Nigerian youth have about credit, and how is Genzaar trying to change that narrative through this program?
Seyi: The main one is that credit is only for emergencies or that borrowing signifies financial instability. In reality, credit can be a strategic tool for growth when used responsibly, for instance building a good credit history can help you buy a house or build a business.
These are the skills we are positioning through the YouthCred program. By teaching young people how to budget, understand interest rates, and manage debt, we’re empowering them to make informed financial decisions. This approach helps define credit and positions it as a means to achieve personal and professional goals, rather than a last resort.
Q: Looking beyond YouthCred, what other areas of financial life do you think Nigerian youth are most underserved in? And how is Genzaar planning to support them?
Seyi: I’ve already mentioned pensions, but investments are another critical area. With only 5% of the adult population participating in capital markets, there’s a significant gap in financial inclusion and growth. Beyond this, other instruments such as endowment funds are even less known and often misunderstood. Yet, at scale, they hold the potential to transform long-term funding for essential infrastructure, from schools and hospitals to arts and cultural institutions
At Genzaar, our unique learning proposition simplifies financial products and concepts, making them easy to understand and accessible for everyone.
Q: What is one aspect of Nigeria’s financial education system you would most likely improve or change?
Seyi: Financial education is becoming increasingly fragmented, meaning there are so many players offering financial literacy courses, however, it typically focuses on savings,budgeting and investment. While all these are important it leaves out other key areas that are under penetrated like insurance, pensions, trusts etc. Genzaar is putting a spotlight on underrepresented financial areas
Q: In a few words, how would you define Genzaar’s mission to a Nigerian corper who’s never heard of you before?
Seyi: Genzaar is your life partner in finance
To Wrap Up
The conversation with Seyi reveals financial inclusion isn’t just about giving people access to money. It’s about giving them the tools to use that access wisely. For the thousands of Nigerian youth navigating their first taste of financial independence, programs like YouthCred might just be the difference between building wealth and building debt.
Through initiatives like YouthCred and platforms like Eduworld, that understanding is now more accessible than ever before.
As more NYSC members complete their financial literacy training and access responsible credit options, the ripple effects will extend far beyond individual financial outcomes to influence Nigeria’s broader economic development.
