Federal Govt To Restructure NYSC Scheme
By Dele Alabi
The Minister of Youth Development, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, says the Federal Government of Nigeria would restructure the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), to meet the demands of the future.
Bio-Ibrahim pointed out that a team to undertake the review, restructuring, and reforms of the NYSC would be inaugurated soon.
She disclosed this in Abuja on Monday, at the opening ceremony of the maiden meeting of NYSC Management with Heads of Corps-producing Institution’s in Nigeria.
The Minister also announced that over 5,000 corps members will have their entrepreneurial ventures funded with close to N10 million.
She said: “Permit me to inform us very briefly that on what is to come regarding NYSC reforms. I’m pleased to announce that I will be inaugurating a team to undertake the review, restructuring, and reforms of the NYSC. The first of these reforms will be centred on reviewing participants with an entrepreneurship mindset and making skills development a core of the programme.
“The NYSC already does that but the objective is to work with them to strengthen the mandate they already have to be more efficient, effective, and beneficial.
“So we envision a future where the NYSC programmes are not only self-sustained but also a revenue-generating programme within the next five years, and to achieve this, we will institutionalise the NYSC ventures as an investment and asset management outfit.
“Furthermore, as part of the Nigeria youth investment fund programme for 2024, I’m also pleased to announce that at least 5,000 corps members will have their entrepreneurial ventures funded with upto N10 million passing out.”
While welcoming the heads of corps-producing institutions, the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Yushau’ Ahmed, said the meeting aimed at enhancing the mobilisation process of prospective corps members.
Ahmed stated that the meeting, which is a follow-up to a previous one with heads of corps-producing institutions in West African countries, aims to evolve strategies for eliminating identified flaws and ensuring a more seamless mobilisation process.
He added that, “We have identified some obstacles, including the delegation of roles to subordinates, and we believe that the direct involvement of chief executives of institutions will promote a deeper appreciation of issues and ensure desired results.”
Also, he reaffirmed the NYSC’s commitment to the security and general welfare of corps members, appealing to corps-producing institutions, parents, and the general public to complement efforts in sensitising young graduates on call-up for national service.
The DG said: “We urge you to use all available avenues to complement our efforts in sensitizing young graduates on call-up for national service to avoid traveling at night when reporting to their states of deployment.”
On his part, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Nyesom Wike, commended the decision of the NYSC to bring critical stakeholders together to brainstorm on the best strategies for greater success, which aligns perfectly with the contemporary global best practices for achieving desired results.
He commended the NYSC’s efforts to enhance its operations through technology-driven approaches and urged the participants to actively contribute to the meeting’s success.
Wike, who was represented by the Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat, FCT Administration, Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi said: “The NYSC has consistently symbolised our collective commitment to national development, unity, and integration. However, like any other human endeavour, we are aware that the Scheme faces challenges, including those posed by the mobilisation process. In this regard, the need for the adoption of innovative strategies to surmount challenges and enhance best practices for the engagement of our young graduates in national development efforts cannot be overemphasized.
0
0
