NYSC, ILO Plan Empowerment of Corpers through Entrepreneurship
The Management of the National Youth Service Corps and that of International Labour Organization have reached an agreement to form a synergy in the area of entrepreneurship to empower Corps members.
During a meeting in Abuja on Thursday, 25th of July, the Director General NYSC, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim and ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Liberia and Sierra-Leon, Mr. Dennis Zulu were unanimous that skills and ideas in entrepreneurship as well as start-up funding are the catalysts that can easily propel the youths into becoming great business tycoons the nation can depend on to create jobs and also boost the economy.
Brig General Ibrahim while briefing his ILO counterpart said that, in 2012 NYSC came up with Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Department, which is saddled with the sole responsibility of ensuring that Corps members are adequately equipped with sundry skills that will make them self-reliant at the end of their service year.
To this end he said experts are hired, who train Corps members in orientation camps across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
He further said that the SAED training which comprises in-camp and post-camp segments covers skill sets such as agro allied ventures, fashion designing, cosmetology, automobile, ICT, film making and photography, culture and tourism, food processing and preservation, and environmental beautification among others.
He equally stated that NYSC is into partnership with some financial institutions notably the Central Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Industry, and Heritage Bank in providing soft and/or interest free loans to Corps members who present bankable business plans.
The NYSC boss thanked ILO for accepting to support his plan to expand SAED to make it more robust, by establishing skill centres in all parts of the country.
“Sir, as we speak, NYSC has two skill centres in Ekiti and Gombe states. Access bank has offered to build and equip three more centres in no distant time; and some States have also agreed to provide Corps members training centres in their domains” he stressed.
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On his part, Mr Dennis assured Brig Gen lbrahim of the success of the partnership, promising to make contributions in every area of need, within available resources.
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NYSC Detect Fraudulent Practice of African Universities in Corps Mobilisation
Management of National Youth Service Corps under the stewardship of the Director General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim has began the process of putting a stop to the increasing spate of mobilizing unqualified graduates by some African tertiary institutions.
Addressing heads of African Corps institutions and other key stakeholders at a meeting held at the National Universities Commission, Abuja on Thursday, 25th July, the Director General lamented over the ugly trend, whereby some Africa universities present to NYSC for mobilization young men and women who have never undergone any academic programme at all.
Brig. Gen. Ibrahim said the situation is very alarming, as investigations have revealed that some of the products of such institutions don’t know how to read or write even simple words.
He said the meeting was convened for participants to brainstorm and come up with meaningful suggestions that will put to an end the sale of degrees by such universities, so that the continent and the entire universe can have graduates that can contribute to development and also be trusted with leadership roles in the nearest future.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Christopher Oha who served as special guest of honour at the event lamented over the ugly trend, and said that stiff sanction be served on any institution that henceforth mobilizes unqualified youth for national service.
In their various submissions, participants from some of the African countries pledged to take the message home, and sanitize their systems to avoid future occurrences.
Similarly, spokespersons from Nigerians federal ministries of education and foreign affairs promised to work with NYSC in checkmating the activities of foreign and domestic tertiary institutions that have been found wanting, in order to curb the unholy illegal act.
The meeting came just a day after the NYSC Scheme organized a sensitization workshop on its enabling Act, with a view to educating the public on its operations.
By PRNigeria
