By Harriet Tornguvan
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, saying the initiative would strengthen youth empowerment and expand entrepreneurship opportunities for Corps Members across the country.
Nafiu made the appeal during an appearance at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja as the Scheme marked its 53rd anniversary of promoting national unity and socio-economic development.
The NYSC boss explained that the proposed Trust Fund would provide the Scheme with additional resources to broaden the scope of its Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme and support Corps Members with start-up capital to establish businesses.
According to him, the fund would significantly boost venture services, create employment opportunities and help reduce youth restiveness by engaging graduates in productive ventures.
He noted that empowering young people economically would curb social vices and idleness among unemployed youths.
Reflecting on the Scheme’s 53-year history, Nafiu said the NYSC had remained faithful to its mandate since its establishment under the administration of General Yakubu Gowon following the Civil War.
He described the vision behind the Scheme as laudable, stressing that it has continued to promote national integration through inter-tribal marriages, cultural exchange and the deployment of Corps Members outside their states of origin.
The Director-General stated that numerous friendships and lasting relationships had emerged through the Scheme, adding that its contribution to national unity and socio-economic development could not be underestimated.
Nafiu further highlighted the Scheme’s technological transformation over the years, citing innovations such as electronic identity cards, digital record-keeping, online camp registration and the use of social media for information dissemination.
Speaking on entrepreneurship development, he said the SAED programme, introduced in 2012, was designed to strengthen the informal sector of the economy through Corps Members.
He disclosed that the programme had continued to evolve, including through a recent Memorandum of Understanding with the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan-Atlantic University.
According to him, more than 500,000 Corps Members have registered businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission through the initiative.
The NYSC helmsman also reaffirmed management’s commitment to ensuring seamless online registration for prospective Corps Members.
He, however, identified inadequate camp accommodation as a major factor affecting deployment capacity, stressing that state governments have statutory responsibilities under the NYSC Act to provide and maintain conducive orientation camp facilities.
Nafiu revealed that Enugu and Osun states are currently renovating their orientation camps, while Lagos State is constructing a new camp to improve the welfare of Corps Members.
He said state governments are also expected to provide operational vehicles for State Coordinators and camp subventions, while local government councils are responsible for providing Corps lodges.
The DG disclosed that the Scheme had continued engaging stakeholders to ensure they meet their obligations and appealed to Student Affairs Officers in tertiary institutions to submit lists of qualified graduates promptly to avoid mobilization delays.
He also stated that the NYSC is prepared to comply with the Federal Government’s Nigeria Education Repository Databank policy aimed at maintaining records of Nigerian graduates.
On security and welfare, Nafiu urged Corps Members to obey travel advisories and security guidelines, including avoiding night journeys and unnecessary risky movements.
He added that the Scheme works closely with security agencies to ensure the safety of Corps Members travelling to orientation camps and noted that all serving members are enrolled under the National Health Insurance Authority health package for free medical care during service.
Nafiu further disclosed that NYSC ventures, including farms, bakeries, water and garment factories, not only provide vocational training for Corps Members but also serve as sources of internally generated revenue.
He said the Scheme was promoting a culture of savings and multiple income streams among young graduates, stressing that entrepreneurship development equips them with skills for self-reliance and enables them to train others.
The Director General also said the NYSC has sustained campaigns on responsible social media use, encouraging Corps Members to promote positive content and avoid actions capable of bringing them into conflict with the law.
