Body Honours 2 National Youth Service Corps Workers In Katsina

The Institute for Humanitarian and Disaster Management has honoured two NYSC staff members in Katsina for their outstanding contributions to corps members’ welfare and career development.

The ceremony held at the Orientation  Camp in Katsina, featured an impactful lecture on the growing importance of professional skills in securing employment in today’s competitive job market.

The registrar of the institute, Mr Ephraim  Aiyada,  delivered a thought-provoking session on the challenge among fresh graduates: repeated job applications without receiving interview invitations.

He explained that many applicants fail not because they lack degrees, but because they lack either years of work experience or professional qualifications, which recruiters consider essential.

According to him, employers often decide the fate of an application within 30 seconds.

“Once I pick your document, I go straight to your qualifications and years of work experience. If both are missing, the next thing I look for is professional certifications. Without experience or skills, no employer will invite you”, he said.

Aiyada stressed that professional skills can replace years of work experience, giving fresh graduates a meaningful advantage.

He recalled a case from 2018 where a first-class graduate lost a job to a second-class applicant because the latter possessed three professional qualifications, enabling him to demonstrate stronger practical competence during assessment.

“This is why many graduates continue applying without success. Your degree class cannot carry you alone. Professional training fills the gap”, he explained.

He commended NYSC for introducing programmes such as SAED and partnering with professional bodies to equip corps members with relevant certifications.

Through the Institute for Humanitarian and Disaster Management and the Institute for Global Peace and Conflict Management, the organization offers over 20 professional courses, alongside a Postgraduate Diploma, membership certificate, and professional license.

Aiyada assured corps members that the training is highly subsidized for NYSC participants, with flexible installment options. The programme runs for 2–3 months, after which candidates write and must pass a professional examination to qualify for induction.

He further revealed that the institute’s PGD can be used to pursue master’s degrees at partner institutions including the University of Port Harcourt, the University of Ibadan (pending final MOU), and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The highlight of the event was the recognition of two exceptional NYSC staff members, including the PRO of the Orientation  camp, Mr  Alex Obeamta and  Muhammad Bakori, for their commitment to supporting corps members’ development.

The Institute praised their dedication to mentorship, discipline, and professional growth within the NYSC community.