By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has called for public support toward the approval of the proposed NYSC Trust Fund as the Scheme marks its 53rd anniversary of promoting national unity and youth development in Nigeria.
Speaking at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja, General Nafiu said the Trust Fund would significantly expand the NYSC’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme by providing start-up capital for Corps Members to establish businesses and create jobs.
According to him, the initiative would also help curb youth restiveness by engaging young graduates in productive ventures capable of reducing idleness and social vices.
The NYSC boss noted that the Scheme has remained faithful to its founding mandate of fostering national unity, cohesion, and socio-economic development since its establishment under the administration of former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, following the Nigerian Civil War.
He described the vision behind the Scheme as laudable, stressing that the NYSC has strengthened national integration through inter-tribal marriages, cultural exchange, and the deployment of Corps Members to states outside their regions of origin.
General Nafiu said countless friendships and enduring relationships had also emerged from the Scheme over the years, adding that its contributions to national unity and development remain invaluable.
Highlighting reforms within the NYSC, the Director-General said the Scheme has embraced technological innovations to improve operations, including the introduction of electronic identity cards, digital record keeping, online camp registration, and social media-based information dissemination.
He explained that the SAED programme, introduced in 2012, was designed to strengthen Nigeria’s informal economy by equipping Corps Members with vocational and entrepreneurial skills.
General Nafiu revealed that the programme recently received a boost through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan-Atlantic University.
He further disclosed that more than 500,000 Corps Members had successfully registered businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under the initiative.
The DG reaffirmed Management’s commitment to ensuring seamless online registration for Corps Members nationwide.
On infrastructure challenges, Nafiu identified inadequate accommodation at orientation camps as a major factor affecting the deployment of Corps Members across states.
He reminded state governments of their statutory responsibility under the NYSC Act to provide and maintain conducive orientation camp facilities for Corps Members.
He disclosed that Enugu and Osun states are currently renovating their orientation camps, while Lagos State is constructing a new camp to improve the welfare and comfort of Corps Members posted to the state.
“It is the responsibility of state governments to provide operational vehicles for State Coordinators and camp subventions, while Local Government Chairmen are expected to provide Corps lodges,” he stated.
General Nafiu added that he had continued to engage stakeholders at all levels to ensure compliance with obligations to the Scheme.
He also appealed to Student Affairs Officers in tertiary institutions to submit the names of qualified graduates promptly to avoid delays in mobilization.
The NYSC helmsman further disclosed that the Nigeria Education Repository Databank (NERD), introduced by the Federal Government to maintain records of Nigerian graduates, would receive full compliance from the Scheme.
On security, Nafiu advised Corps Members to strictly observe NYSC travel advisories, including avoiding night travel, lone journeys, and risky movements.
He said the Scheme had partnered with security agencies to ensure the safety of Corps Members travelling to orientation camps nationwide.
The Director-General also revealed that all Corps Members are covered under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) health package, which provides free medical care throughout the service year.
General Nafiu added that NYSC ventures, including farms, bakeries, water factories, and garment production centres, not only provide vocational training opportunities for Corps Members but also generate internal revenue for the Scheme.
“The Scheme is trying to inculcate the culture of savings in Corps Members through multiple streams of income,” he said.
“Entrepreneurship development enables them to develop themselves and also train others to acquire new skills towards self-employment.”
He further urged Corps Members to use social media responsibly by promoting positive content that would not bring them into conflict with the law.
