50th Anniversary: NYSC Targets Self-reliance For Corps Members

As the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) clocks 50 years, its director-general, Brigadier General Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed has unveiled plans to make corps members self-reliant through skills acquisition.

Ahmed stated this yesterday during a Unity Walk to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the NYSC, with activities set for the event commencing on Monday, May 15, 2023.
He said since its establishment, the NYSC has contributed significantly to the development of education, health, politics and the unity of the country.

Gen Ahmed said, “Generally, we have done a lot. You can see that in the last election we did well. Without the corps members that election would have been impossible because they formed over 75 percent of the ad hoc staff.
“We also have skills acquisition schemes. Corps members after passing from their youth service, they become entrepreneurs and instead of depending on the government for employment they turn out to be employers of labour.
“We want to carry out transformational changes in terms of skills acquisition so that a lot of these corps members after service will no longer wait for government work.
“They will be on their own, they will establish their business, they will turn out to be employers’ labour, most importantly with the setting up of NYSC Trust Fund, that will give them the opportunity to achieve this objective,” he said.
Also, the director of press and public relations of NYSC, Eddy Megwa, said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will be the special guest at the opening ceremony/50th anniversary lecturer while the First Lady Dr Aisha Buhari, will serve as special guest on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 under the event titled: “Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) Outreach.”
The founder of the NYSC and former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, will be the special guest on day 3 of the event where there will be commissioning of modern ICT building/SEAD exhibition on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, among several other activities.