The Federal Government has called upon the National Youth Service Scheme, NYSC, to develop initiatives to take the youths to another level of progress and digital revolution supporting and modelling the youths within one year to be better citizens for national development and national unity .
The Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, said this on Tuesday in Abuja, in his address at the opening ceremony of the 2023 NYSC Annual Management Conference, themed, “Optimising the Operations of NYSC at 50 for National Development.”
He commended the Scheme, for its contribution in diverse areas to the overall development of the country, noting that its existence has been a strong tool for socio-economic development and national unity in its 50 years of existence.
The Minister lauded the scheme for its role in national development and youth empowerment, while noting the need for reforms in the NYSC to enhance improved service delivery and meet the challenges of the 21st century youths as potential entrepreneurs.
Giving his welcome address, the Director General of NYSC, Brig Gen Y.D. Ahmed noted that the NYSC has remained a reference point for other organisations since its inception in 1973, owing to its vital roles in the promotion of national unity and integration.
He appealed to critical stakeholders to discharge their statutory responsibilities to the Scheme and also empower a large number of corps members with start-up capital for self-reliance after going through the NYSC entrepreneurial trainings.
The DG stated further that the proposed NYSC Trust Fund, when actualised, would make the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme more functional, through the provision of training facilities and start-up capital to finance the businesses of corps entrepreneurs.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Alhaji Muhammed Musa Bello, in his address commended the various innovations and positive strides made by the Scheme till date.
The minister, whose address was read by the Mandate Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Hajia Hadiza Mohammed Kabir, said: “The nation surely looks up to the Scheme to continue to provide the required manpower for its accelerated development.”
Participants at the conference were drawn from the 37 NYSC state/FCT secretariats, area offices and other formations of the Scheme across the country.