The Minister for Youth, Dr Jamila Bio-Ibrahim has advocated for improved stakeholders’ support for the National Youth Service Corps.
Bio-Ibrahim stated this on Wednesday in her address when she paid a courtesy visit to the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
She said there’s need to strengthen the Scheme so as to consolidate on its laudable achievements in youth empowerment, national unity and integration, rural development, educational improvement among others.
According to the statement released by the Scheme, Bio-Ibrahim promised to work with the NYSC Management in order to achieve the objectives of the Scheme.
“I have been a strong advocate of the NYSC and this is the time when the country needs the Scheme.
It is my hope that the Scheme is sustained and we will work together with you for the sake of Nigerian youths”, she said.
Speaking earlier, the NYSC Director General, Brigadier General YD Ahmed congratulated the Minister on her appointment.
He said the Scheme has become a household name in Nigeria through its invaluable contributions to national unity and socio-economic development of the country.
“As a dynamic organisation, the Scheme has continued to assert its relevance by being responsive to prevailing national needs”, the DG said.
General Ahmed added that in its quest to enhance the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme, the Scheme has partnered several agencies like the Central Bank of Nigeria, Access Bank, Unity Bank, Gombe State University, Nasarawa State University, NYSC Foundation among others.
He said the partnership has granted financial empowerment and technical support to some Corps Members as start-up capital to establish their businesses in line with the skills they acquired during service.
The Director General listed some of the challenges facing the Scheme to include; poor condition of some Orientation Camps, inadequate Corps Lodges, insufficient vehicles for inspection of Corps Members among others.