The Director-General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brigadier-General Shuaibu Ibrahim, has called on corps members to take advantage of the scheme’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme to become employers of labour instead of job seekers at the end of their service year.
General Ibrahim gave the charge while addressing corps members at NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ise/Orum/Emure, Ekiti state.
The Director-General who emphasised that acquisition of skills is the panacea to youth unemployment, restiveness and other social vices in this age, also encouraged graduate youths to carry out their duties diligently when posted to their places of primary assignment at the end of the orientation course.
Speaking further, the NYSC DG urged the corps members to take Community Development Service (CDS) seriously in order to ameliorate the plights of their host communities, thereby leaving indelible footprints in them.
“I advise you to identify the critical needs of the communities to which you will be posted at the end of your three weeks stay on this camp and come up with workable solutions. You can do this by embarking on group and/or personal CDS projects” he said.
General Ibrahim similarly enjoined the corps members to be security conscious at all times and in all places they may find themselves.
“Do not put yourselves in harm’s way. Always study your environment and identify escape routes in case of any mishap. Be in constant contact with your colleagues whenever you have reason to leave your lodges, and cultivate harmonious relationships with security forces and community leaders,” he said, even as he praised an ex-corps member, John Okonoboh, a successful shoe entrepreneur who learnt shoe making under the NYSC skills acquision scheme during his service year. One of Mr Okonoboh’s wares was displayed during the interface with NYSC officials.
