Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim, Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, has urged members of the public to send memoranda to the House Committee on Youth and Sports, as well as attend the public hearing, to show their support for the formation of the NYSC Trust Fund.
According to a statement signed by Mr. Emeka Mgbemena, the Scheme’s Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations.
The DG, according to Mr. Mgbemena, stated the bill’s public hearing will take place on February 24 this year, after it passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.
The inaugural ceremony of the 2022 Batch ‘A’ Pre-Orientation Workshop, with the topic “Repositioning the important components of the Orientation Course material to address contemporary issues,” took place today in Abuja.
He stated that the Trust Fund would assist in addressing infrastructure shortfalls in NYSC Orientation Camps, as well as ensuring appropriate provision of other operational requirements and reducing the number of unemployed graduates in the country.
“When the NYSC Trust Fund becomes operational, the number of Corps entrepreneurs will increase drastically, and they will in turn help to provide jobs for millions of other youths in the country. This will equally help reduce the issue of security challenge faced in the country.
Already, much ex-trainees of the SAED programme have established flourishing businesses in several states across the country and have employed or trained many youths of the host communities“, he said.
The workshop was convened, according to the DG, to allow NYSC Top Management, key camp officials, and collaborating partners to analyze prior Orientation Courses in order to improve the Scheme’s performance in the upcoming one.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s tremendous hurdles and the operating environment’s idiosyncrasies, Ibrahim claimed the Scheme was able to successfully execute Orientation drills.
“Part of the measures leading to the successes recorded is the strict enforcement of COVID-19 safety protocols in all our Orientation Camps.
In this regard, the Scheme is working closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and State Ministries of Health on procedures for safe conduct of the exercise.
I would like to assure that our commitment to the safety of Corps Members and Staff in all our operations remains unwavering,” he added.
The NYSC Chief Executive also expressed gratitude to the Federal Government, the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-9, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, as well as the Federal and State Ministries of Health, for their support, particularly in ensuring that the Orientation Courses ran smoothly.
As the Scheme prepared for the upcoming exercise, he advised them to keep up the pace.
During the Orientation Course, he praised the FCT Administration for increasing the amount of food provided to Corps Members and Camp administrators.
“Our appreciation also goes to traditional rulers and the Security Agencies for their roles in ensuring the safety of corps members deployed to the Territory”, DG added.
While declaring the workshop open, Alhaji Muhammad Musa Bello, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, praised NYSC Management for their pragmatic leadership style and administrative prowess in running the Scheme’s activities.
“We in the FCT commend various innovations and positive turn around the Scheme has witnessed so far,” the Minister said.
Bello, who was represented by Hajiya Hadiza Kabir, Secretary, Social Development Secretariat, said that the FCT Administration will not fail to provide the NYSC with the essential support at all times, particularly with regard to the security and welfare of Corps Members.
He urged the workshop attendees to contribute meaningfully to the proceedings.
In his welcome address, Alhaji Ahmed Wada Ikaka, Director, Planning, Research, and Statistics, stated that the workshop was held in preparation for the 2022 Batch ‘A’ Stream One and Two Orientation courses.
Participants will evaluate prior Orientation activities, including the obstacles experienced and best practices, during the workshop, he noted, in order to make required improvements for the next exercise.
Source: Nyscinfo