NYSC Seeks Support for Trust Fund to Boost Corps Members’ Empowerment
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NYSC Seeks Support for Trust Fund to Boost Corps Members’ Empowerment
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has appealed for public support for the approval of the NYSC Trust Fund, saying it will expand the Scheme’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme and boost job creation among Corps Members.
Nafiu said the proposed Trust Fund would provide start-up capital for Corps Members to establish businesses after their service year, thereby reducing unemployment and youth restiveness across the country.
The NYSC boss made the appeal during his appearance on the News Agency of Nigeria Forum in Abuja as part of activities marking the Scheme’s 53rd anniversary.
He said the Trust Fund would strengthen the Scheme’s venture initiatives and equip more young graduates with practical skills for self-reliance.
READ ALSO: NAN DG Hails NYSC’s Contribution to National Development
According to him, the initiative would also help curb social vices by engaging youths in productive economic activities.
Speaking on the achievements of the Scheme since its establishment in 1973 by the administration of General Yakubu Gowon, Nafiu said NYSC had remained a key instrument for promoting national unity, cohesion and socio-economic development.
He noted that the vision of the founding fathers to unite Nigeria after the civil war had been sustained through the deployment policy, which promotes inter-ethnic interaction and integration among Corps Members.
The DG added that the Scheme had also facilitated inter-tribal marriages and lasting relationships among young Nigerians posted outside their states of origin.
He said, “The influence of the Scheme in relation to national unity, cohesion and socio-economic development cannot be underestimated.”
Nafiu also disclosed that the Scheme had continued to evolve through technological innovations, including electronic identity cards, digital records management, online registration and improved communication systems.
He explained that the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme, introduced in 2012, had continued to expand through partnerships, including a Memorandum of Understanding with the Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan-Atlantic University.
According to him, more than 500,000 Corps Members have registered their businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission under the initiative.
The DG said the NYSC would continue to ensure seamless online mobilisation and registration processes for Corps Members.
He also identified inadequate accommodation in orientation camps as a major factor influencing the number of Corps Members deployed to various states, noting that state governments have key responsibilities under the NYSC Act.
Nafiu said some states, including Enugu and Osun, were currently renovating their camps, while Lagos State was constructing a new facility to improve Corps Members’ welfare.
He added that state governments were also expected to provide operational vehicles for NYSC coordinators and support camp activities, while local government chairmen were to provide Corps lodges.
The DG said he had engaged relevant stakeholders to ensure compliance with their obligations to the Scheme.
He urged Student Affairs Officers in tertiary institutions to promptly submit names of qualified graduates for mobilisation to avoid delays.
Nafiu also disclosed that the Nigeria Education Repository Databank was a federal initiative aimed at documenting Nigerian graduates, adding that NYSC was prepared to comply with the policy.
On security, he advised Corps Members to adhere strictly to safety guidelines, including avoiding night travel and unnecessary movement, while noting that the Scheme was working with security agencies to ensure their protection.
He added that Corps Members were covered under the National Health Insurance Authority scheme, which guarantees access to free medical care during their service year.
Nafiu further said NYSC business ventures such as farms, bakeries, water production and garment factories were not only training platforms but also sources of internally generated revenue.
“The Scheme is trying to inculcate the culture of savings in Corps Members through multiple streams of income,” he said.
He urged Corps Members to make the most of entrepreneurship opportunities to achieve self-reliance and economic independence after service.
The DG also warned Corps Members against the misuse of social media, urging them to promote positive content that would not expose them to legal consequences.
