The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is set to undergo reforms to prepare it for the challenges of the future, according to Youth Development Minister Jamila Bio-Ibrahim.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the first meeting between NYSC management and heads of corps-producing institutions in Nigeria, Bio-Ibrahim announced plans to establish a team to review, restructure, and reform the NYSC.
According to the Minister, the team will focus on enhancing the program’s entrepreneurial aspects and prioritizing skills development. Bio-Ibrahim stressed that the NYSC already has an entrepreneurial focus, but the goal is to strengthen and expand the mandate to make the program more efficient, effective, and beneficial.
She envisioned a future where NYSC programs are self-sustaining and revenue-generating within the next five years.
Therefore, the NYSC will be institutionalized as an investment and asset management outfit. Also, as part of the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund program for 2024, at least 5,000 corps members will receive funding of up to N10 million for their entrepreneurial ventures. The initiative aims to support young entrepreneurs and promote economic growth.
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brig Gen Yushau Dogara Ahmed, explained that the meeting aimed to improve the mobilization of prospective corps members.
Ahmed explained that the meeting was a follow-up to a previous one with heads of corps-producing institutions in West Africa, aimed at identifying and addressing flaws in the mobilization process. Also speaking at the event, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike commended the NYSC for bringing together critical stakeholders to brainstorm strategies for achieving greater success.
Wike believed that the initiative aligns with contemporary global best practices for achieving desired results.
Wike, represented by Mrs Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Mandate Secretary of Women Affairs Secretariat at the FCT Administration, praised the NYSC for its commitment to national development, unity, and integration.
