The Minister for Youth, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, has called for increased support from stakeholders to bolster the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
She emphasized the importance of strengthening the scheme to build upon its commendable achievements in youth empowerment, fostering national unity and integration, enhancing rural development, and improving education, among other critical objectives.
The minister made this appeal during her visit to the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
She expressed her commitment to collaborating with the NYSC management to realize the scheme’s goals, highlighting her unwavering advocacy for the NYSC and its vital role in the current socio-political landscape.
“This is a crucial time for the NYSC, and I believe that the scheme should be sustained. We will work together for the betterment of Nigerian youths,” Bio-Ibrahim stated.
Brigadier General YD Ahmed, the Director-General of the NYSC, extended congratulations to the minister on her appointment.
He acknowledged the NYSC’s prominent status in Nigeria, emphasizing its invaluable contributions to national unity and the country’s socio-economic development.
The Director-General noted that the NYSC has adapted to meet the evolving needs of the nation.
In its commitment to enhancing the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development program, the scheme has partnered with various organizations, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, Access Bank, Unity Bank, Gombe State University, Nasarawa State University, and the NYSC Foundation, among others.
These collaborations provide financial empowerment and technical support to corps members, enabling them to establish businesses aligned with the skills they acquired during their service.
General Ahmed also highlighted some of the challenges faced by the NYSC, including the subpar condition of certain orientation camps, insufficient corps lodges, and a shortage of vehicles for the inspection of corps members, among other issues.