TCNews

By Our Reporter

The NYSC Director General NYSC, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim has reminded corps members that the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme was carefully designed to equip them for self-employment and wealth creation.

In his address read by the Abia State Coordinator of the scheme, Mr. Jingi Denis at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Umunna in Bende L.G.A, of Abia State during a low-key terminal parade/closing ceremony of the 2022 Batch ‘A’ stream 1 orientation course, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim also reminded them that the orientation course serves as the launch-pad for the entire Service and therefore enjoined them to brace up for the tasks of the next phase (places of primary assignment).

His words, “Like I said during my previous addresses to you, white collar jobs are no longer easy to come by, hence the need to embrace the self-employment option. Accordingly, the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme has been carefully designed to equip you for self-employment and wealth creation. Of course, the level of enthusiasm you demonstrated during the vocational and entrepreneurial training conducted in the Camp is commendable. You are further encouraged to build on the skills acquired by availing yourselves of opportunities for post-camp training.

“It may interest you know that the desire to make the SAED programme more impactful partly informed our advocacy for the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund. Once it becomes operational, the quality of the programme will be further enhanced through the provision of adequate training materials and engagement of more specialist trainers. All trainees with bankable business proposals will also be supported with start-up grants. You will in turn be expected to step down vocational training or employ a good number of youths of your host community. That way, we will be pulling millions of Nigerians out of poverty, thereby stemming the tide of youth restiveness and tendency for criminality”.

The NYSC DG specially appreciated the House of Representatives and, by extension, the entire National Assembly for the progress made so far on the legislative processes on the Bill for the establishment of the Trust Fund, which has not only passed through the second reading, but also subjected to public hearing.

Maj. General Ibrahim also thanked the numerous stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, various Government Agencies, non-Governmental organizations, the academia, civil society organizations as well as women, youth and students’ groups, who used the occasion of the public hearing to voice their overwhelming support for the Bill; even as he passionately appealed to the appropriate authorities to facilitate the success of the remaining processes that will bring the Trust Fund to fruition.

While expressing the scheme’s profound gratitude to the Federal Government for providing the enablement for the take-off of Corps members’ enrolment in the National Health Insurance Scheme under a comprehensive initiative known as NYSC Group Individual Family Social Health Insurance Programme (GIFSHIP), Maj. Gen. Ibrahim enjoined all Corps members to take full advantage of the arrangement by registering under Health Care Providers in their service locations, and always report promptly for medical attention in the event of ill health.

He further informed that Corps members can also visit any NHIS accredited hospital during official leave period outside their service locations. 

A total of 1,504 corps members participated in the orientation excercise, made up of 567 males and 937 females.

The Camp Director, Mrs Nkechi Goddy-Ekezie; the Camp Commandant, Captain Abdulrasheed A; Resident Officer 1, Mrs Grace Effiong; the representative of the NYSC Area Director, Mr Monday Osamogie; Head of Police: ASP Ibiang Ugobo; Head Civil Defence: ASC1 Iheke Oluchi; Head of NDLEA, Supritendent of Nacotics, Labaran Idris Alhaji; Head of Fire Service, Mr Nnamdi Ogu; Head Red Cross, Chinenye Orihe; Head of Man O’ war: Mrs Katsina Deborah among others were present.