The Nation Newspaper

Tag: National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)

  • NYSC has achieved mandate, says Gowon

    NYSC has achieved mandate, says Gowon

    A former Military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, says he is proud of the National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) for achieving its mandate in its 44 years of existence.

    Gowon made the statement in Abuja on Friday when the NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Sulaiman Kazaure, and other top management staff of the organization paid him a courtesy visit at the Yakubu Gowon Centre on his 83rd birthday.

    He said that his administration fought to establish the NYSC in 1973 after the Nigerian civil war, to use it as a tool to promote national unity and integration of the country.

    Gowon said that the organization had achieved beyond its mandate, contrary to some opinions.

    According to him, some people have shown their determination to kill the NYSC.

    “They are saying it should be scrapped. They believe that the NYSC has out-lived its usefulness and so is no longer relevant to the society.

    “The scheme has done a lot to bring about national unity and integration.

    “There is no community you go to today where corps members are not serving and the support they bring to local communities is great.

    “The reason my government established the NYSC was to initiate reconciliation among Nigerians after the civil war.

    “We also sought to establish it for Nigerians to know each other more; promote national unity and encourage the NYSC to offer services to communities around them.

    “We fought to establish it and I am proud of the scheme and all it has achieved and continue to do for the youth and the country.

    “The NYSC should not be taken out of the constitution. Although some persons have said it should be scrapped.

    “If you listen to public opinion, you will find out that corps members are against the scrapping of the scheme.

    “This is because they understand and know its relevance and importance to their development and future,’’ Gowon said.

    He advised the scheme to operate an open-door policy where it can entertain suggestions from past and serving corps members on how to move the scheme forward.

    Earlier, Kazaure said the management of the scheme was on the visit to identify and celebrate with Gowon on his birthday.

    He lauded Gowon’s efforts in establishing the scheme, stating that corps members were in all parts of the country, carrying out their national service.

    The director-general said the corps members were bringing growth and development to communities and helping to foster unity and integration.

    “The NYSC says thank you for all you have done for the scheme; 44 years after, the scheme is still standing strong.

    “We will keep the scheme alive to continue to bring about unity and development for the youth and the nation.

    “On behalf of the NYSC, we wish you a happy birthday,’’ Kazaure said.

    The NYSC was established on May 22, 1973 during the Gowon administration.

    The company was established in a bid by the regime to bring foster rehabilitation, re-construction and reconciliation after the civil war.

    Gowon turned 83 years on Oct. 19.

    NAN

  • Over 500 residents benefit from NYSC free medical services

    Over 500 residents benefit from NYSC free medical services

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has provided free medical services to over 500 residents of Akun Development Area of Nasarawa State, the state Coordinator, Mrs. Zainab Isah, has said.

    Isah said this on Tuesday in an interview in Akun.

    The state coordinator said that the Scheme Health Initiative Rural Dwellers (HIRD) programme was designed to assist poor Nigerians, especially those at the rural areas unable to cater for their medical treatment.

    She said that the programme would also strengthen national unity and integrity in improve the health conditions of the people of the state, especially rural dwellers.

    “As you can see, the drugs will be given to the community free of charge, medical services free of charge and everything we are do to in the community is free of charge.

    “The programme will benefit rural dwellers because it takes healthcare delivery to their door steps.”

    Isah added that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation, hence the need for the programme.

    The state coordinator commended the Federal Government for funding the programme and called for its sustenance.

    Also speaking, the Head of the Medical Team in the state, Dr. Bello Mohammed, explained that the free medical outreach was part of the Community Development Service to their host state.

    Responding, Sunday Anzaku, one of the beneficiaries, commended the NYSC for the gesture and called for its sustenance.

    He said that the gesture would go a long way toward improving their health and standard of living of the rural dwellers.

     The free medical services involved testing, counselling, consultancy services and drug administration, among others.

    NAN

  • Anambra 2017: 8,000 corps members available for poll – NYSC

    Anambra 2017: 8,000 corps members available for poll – NYSC

    The National Youth  Service  Corps ( NYSC ) says  no fewer than 8, 000 corps members presently serving in Anambra will  be available for the conduct of the forthcoming governorship election.

    Mr Ebenezer Olawale, the NYSC Coordinator  in the state,  said this in Awka on Sunday.

    Olawale said the data of corps members in the state had been transmitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) for planning ahead of the Nov. 18  election.

    He said more corps  members would be moblilised from neighbouring states in case of shortfall.

    “It is no longer news that the NYSC is partnering with INEC in the conduct of credible,  fair and good elections, Anambra’s  case is not different.

    “My office and that of the Resident Electoral Commission have been working assiduously to ensure that corps members participate fully in the exercise.

    “As we all know, corps members are supposed to be non-partisan, they are not from this state,  so we expect them to be fair and they are evenly distributed across the state.

    “We have no fewer than 10,000 corps members in this state but assuming that not all of them will be interested in taking part in the election, we have 8,000 available for this purpose.

    “I have supplied INEC with the data of the available corps members in the state and  where they are not enough,  we shall mobilse from neighbouring states,” he said.

    Olawale also said the NYSC was working with security agencies to ensure the security of  all  corps members.

    He said the corps would soon embark on a tour of the state to sensitise corps members on their expected role in the election as well as  allay their fears over their safety.

    “Very soon,  we shall commence sensitisation visits to my members to ensure that they all participate and allay their fears too because when they do their work well there is nothing to be afraid of.

    “With regards to the security of my members, we have a strong inter-agency collaboration with the police and other security agencies.

    “They have assured us that there would be full mobilisation of security personnel to ensure that NYSC members taking part in the election are safe.

    “Moreover, Anambra is not known for election violence, they prefer to sort out their issues in the law courts rather than resorting to violence.

    “I want to use this medium to call on my corps members to conduct themselves in accordance with  the manner and rules set by INEC; they should be fair  and just to all political parties,” he said.

    NAN

  • ‘Increasing NYSC members responsible for dwindling resources’

    ‘Increasing NYSC members responsible for dwindling resources’

    Brig. Gen Suleiman Kazaure, the Director General, of the National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ), has blamed the dwindling resources in the scheme to rising population of corps members.

    Kazaure disclosed this at the opening of the scheme’s Annual Management Conference in Jos on Tuesday.

    The theme of the conference was: ‘Enhancing the Operations of NYSC through Strategic Planning’.

    The director-general expressed regret that the existing orientation camp facilities had been over stretched due to increased population of corps members.

    He decried the failure of some state and local governments to meet up with their statutory obligations to the scheme.

    Kazaure, therefore, urged them to be alive to their responsibilities to the scheme.

    He lauded the state and local governments that have shown commitment to the success of the scheme through the upgrade of orientation camp facilities and other forms of support.

    According to him, the scheme recently resuscitated the once moribund NYSC farm settlements in Bauchi, Kebbi, and Oyo states as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

    He disclosed that the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development centres in Gombe and Ekiti states were nearing completion, while the one in the South-South state of Delta was already functional.

    Kazaure stated that the scheme is now fully computerized and has already begun biometric registration and clearance of corps members toward enhancing its operational efficiency.

    He said that the conference provided an venue for stakeholders to meet and review the implementation  of the scheme with a view to evolving new policy direction, if necessary, for improved service delivery.

    “As we gather here today, participants are poised to evolve more cohesive and clearer strategies for administration and management of resources, especially against the backdrop of the country’s current economic realities.

    “The focus of the conference is for brainstorming and coming up with practicable solutions and strategies that will reposition and promote the ideals of the scheme in both the present and future,” he said.

    In a message to the conference, the Plateau State Governor, Mr Simon Lalong, represented by his deputy, Sonni Tyoden, praised the director-general for the ongoing reforms in the scheme.

    Lalong expressed satisfaction with the contribution of the scheme, especially in rural areas, in terms of education, health, agriculture through the corps members Community Development Programmes.

    NAN reports that the three-day conference organized for top managers of the scheme, state coordinators and deputy directors will end on Sept. 29th.

  • Ex-NYSC Director General Yusuf Bomoi dies

    Ex-NYSC Director General Yusuf Bomoi dies

    The management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) yesterday announced the demise of its former Director General, Brigadier General Yusuf Bomoi.

    He died on Monday following a brief illness, the management stated.

    He was buried same day in Abuja, according to Islamic rites.

    Brigadier General Bomoi was the 13th director-general  serving from October 2004 to January 2009.

    The scheme mourned the former director, describing him as a man with unparalleled administrative skills.

    “Brigadier General Bomoi was the 13th director-general, who served from October 2004 to January 2009 and was credited with many achievements, especially his humane disposition to the welfare of corps members and staff.

    “Equally unforgettable were his unparalleled administrative skills in running the affairs of the NYSC as director general.

    “His death is a great loss not only to the immediate family, but also the NYSC family and the rest of the nation.

  • NYSC mourns former DG

    NYSC mourns former DG

    The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ), Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, has condoled with the family of a former director-general of the scheme, Yusuf Bomoi, who died on Monday in Abuja.

    Kazaure ,who paid a condolence visit to the family in Abuja on Tuesday along with top management staff of the NYSC, said the death of the former DG was a ‘rude shock’ to the scheme.

    He said although, the death of the ex-NYSC DG was the will of God, the overflowing grief from the family, friends and colleagues was a clear testimony of the footprints he left in the scheme.

    The director general assured the family of the late Bomoi of the scheme’s total and unflinching support at its time of grief.

    Kazaure, who described Bomoi as a pragmatic and inclusive leader, said his sense of innovation and compassionate disposition endeared him to the hearts of all.

    The director general said the death of Bomoi had left a big vacuum that would be hard to fill, adding that the scheme was, however, consoled by his exemplary life of service to God and humanity.

    “It was during Bomoi’s time as the director general of the NYSC that the scheme was able to move its directorate headquarters to the permanent site in Maitama, Abuja.

    “Bomoi made a lot of landmark achievements when he served as the director general of the scheme from 2004 to 2009.
    “The scheme will support the family members in every way possible so that his demise  would not weigh heavily on them,” Kazaure said.

    The director general said the scheme would hold a management meeting soon to conclude on plans to immortalise the late former director general.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bomoi, who died in Abuja after a brief illness, has been buried according to Islamic rites.

    NAN also recalls that Bomoi was the second ex-corps member to head the NYSC scheme; he was appointed the 13th director general of the NYSC on Oct. 29, 2004.

    He served in various capacities in the Nigerian military.

  • Buhari tasks corps members on national unity

    Buhari tasks corps members on national unity

    President Muhammadu Buhari has described the National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) as tool for national development and challenged corpers to promote national unity in their areas of primary assignments.

    Buhari spoke on Friday in Daura, when he received some members of the NYSC at his residence, who paid him sallah homage.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, who addressed the corpers on behalf of the president, assured them of government’s commitment to the unity of the nation.

    Buhari said that the NYSC scheme was the best reconciliatory scheme and would remain relevant, adding that his administration would continue to uphold the unity of the nation.

    Mr Nnamdi John, who spoke on behalf of the corps members, commended the president for granting them audience.

    He said that as corps members, they would continue to promote the unity of the nation through enlightenment and community development services.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the corpers were presented with 10 bags of rice, a bull and N250,000 cash for their sallah celebration.

  • No corps member was killed in Owerri building collapse – NYSC

    No corps member was killed in Owerri building collapse – NYSC

    The Management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) said no member of the corps was killed in the building collapse in Owerri on Aug. 13.

    Mrs Bose Aderibigbe, the NYSC Director of Press made the clarification in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday.

    She said that there was a need to correct a misinformation in news reports by some national dailies regarding the identities of two of the deceased persons in the incident.

    “Chinedu Isiogugu and Ngozi Oformezie were not serving corps members as stated in the news reports.

    “To put the record straight, Chinedu Isiogugu, a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka indeed served on the platform of the NYSC during the 2016 Batch ‘A’ service year with state code number IM/16A/3803.

    “However, the deceased completed the service and was officially discharged on May 4, 2017. Ngozi Oformezie as at date is also not identified as a serving corps member.

    “We commend our media friends and stakeholders for their efforts at informing the citizenry.

    “We equally want to appeal for cross-checking of facts with the scheme on matters of this nature, especially to ascertain identities of serving corps members,” she said.

    She said that the corps condoled with the government and people of Imo over the loss of lives in the building collapse.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that some persons were reportedly killed when a building collapsed at the Fire Service Junction, Owerri on Sunday Aug. 13.

  • NYSC deploys 2,000 corps members to Gombe

    NYSC deploys 2,000 corps members to Gombe

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says it has posted 2,000 corps members to Gombe State for the 2017 batch ‘A’ stream II service year.

    NYSC spokesperson in Gombe State, Margaret Dakama, said in a statement that the orientation course would hold from July 26 to Aug. 15.

    “In Gombe State, about 2,000 prospective corps members are expected to report at the NYSC Temporary Orientation Camp at Amada Science Technical College for the orientation exercise,” Dakama said.

    She advised the corps members to report to camp on time as the registration and verification would end by midnight of July 27.

    The NYSC also urged residents to accord the corps members with necessary assistance in directing them to the orientation camp.

  • EU to partner NYSC to end irregular migration of Nigerians

    EU to partner NYSC to end irregular migration of Nigerians

    The EU says it will partner the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Pan African Institute for Global Affairs and Strategy (PAIGAS) to end irregular migration of  Nigerians.

    The EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Michel Arrion, made the promise in Abuja on Friday when some EU and PAIGAS officials paid a courtesy visit to the NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure.

    Arrion said that many Nigerian youths were risking their lives in a bid to travel abroad to earn better living.

    He said that the partnership would focus on entrepreneurship and skill development for the youths in order to open avenues for job creation and self-reliance.

    He said the collaboration by the three organisations was a major EU strategy to provide the youths with skills to create jobs for themselves.

    “The first thing we want to focus on is skills acquisition; skills that will help the youths to start a micro enterprises.

    “We also hope to contribute to the policy of dialogue developing currently between the EU and many African countries. Nigeria has a very important role to play in this dialogue.

    “One of the issues we have raised is the increasing desire of Nigerian youths to leave the country for Europe using irregular and illegal migration channels.

    “We want to work together to discourage this act and to end this, we have to explain the risks, opportunities and various legal ways one can use to travel to Europe,” he said

    Ambassador Martins Uhomibhi, the PAIGAS President, said that youths were great assets to the country.

    Uhomibhi expressed optimism that PAIGAS would help in bringing succor to the country’s unemployed youths.

    He, however, said: “the youths need to believe in themselves; they need to know that they can achieve anything they want to achieve.

    “There is no need to go across the desert on a suicide mission because there are legitimate means they can use to achieve what they want.”

    He said that this year alone, 17,000 Nigerians had migrated to Italy, stressing that something urgent needed to be done about the problem.

    Kazaure assured the delegation that the NYSC was willing and ready to work with them and that skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development were main focus of the corps.

    He said the collaboration would go a long way in addressing youth unemployment in the country.