Wilson Adekumola
The Federal Government of Nigeria has commended the National Youth Service Corps for its immense contribution to the national growth and overall development of the country.
Leadership reported that the Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare made this disclosure in his address at the Opening Ceremony of the 2023 NYSC Annual Management Conference with dubbed; “Optimizing the Operations of NYSC at 50 for National Development”, held in Abuja.
He stated further that the Scheme in almost fifty years of its existence played a vital role in socio-economic development and national unity.
The Minister said, however, there is room for improvement in NYSC in service delivery and also to address the challenges of the 21st century youths as potential entrepreneurs.
The Minister reassured Government commitment, continue to sustain the Scheme for its roles in national development and youth empowerment.
The minister hailed the past Managers of the Scheme for their innovative roles in introducing Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme into it’s Orientation Course programme which has impacted hundreds of youth entrepreneurs.
He also praised the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon and other stakeholders across the country for their support towards making proposed NYSC Trust Fund a reality.
He charged the participants to “take the NYSC in the direction of another trajectory of progress, digital revolution, supporting and moulding the youths within one year to be better citizens for national development and national unity”.
On his part, the Director General of National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General YD Ahmed said since it’s inception in 1973, the NYSC has been a contributive factor to other organisations due to its significant role in the promotion of national unity and integration, peaceful co-existence among Nigerians of diverse socio-cultural backgrounds and free movement of labour.
While commending its achievements, Ahmed noted that the Scheme is still facing some operational challenges such as; dilapidated facilities at the Orientation Camps, inadequate Corps Lodges, lack of befitting office accommodation in some states, inadequate operational vehicles among others.
He called on the stakeholders to contribute their statutory responsibilities to the Scheme and also empower a large number of Corps Members with start-up capital for self-reliance after going through the NYSC entrepreneurial training.
The DG added that the proposed NYSC Trust Fund, when actualized, would make the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme more functional, through the provision of training facilities and start-up capital to finance the businesses of Corps Entrepreneurs.
In his own words, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Alhaji Muhammed Musa Bello hailed the various innovations and positive contribution made by the Scheme till date.
Represented by the Mandate Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Hajia Hadiza Mohammed Kabir in his address declared that Corps Members posted to the FCT have made great impact to the development of schools, hospitals, rural infrastructure, culture and tourism, sports, conduct of elections, population census, job creation among others.
He said, “The Nation surely looks up to the Scheme to continue to provide the required manpower for its accelerated development.”
