The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Suleiman Kazaure

  • ‘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.

  • 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.

  • ‘Embrace new NYSC agriculture initiative’, Amosun urges corps members

    ‘Embrace new NYSC agriculture initiative’, Amosun urges corps members

    Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of  Ogun  has called on NYSC  members to embrace the new agriculture  initiative of the scheme  as a way of boosting food production in the  country.

    Amosun made the call  at the close of the   NYSC 2017 Batch A, Stream I, Orientation Course on Monday at the corps’  Permanent Orientation Camp in Sagamu.

    It will be recalled that the NYSC Director-General, Brig-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure,  had on May 29 said that the scheme would begin mobilising corps members to farms under its agricultural development programme.

    The governor, who was represented by Mr Afolabi Afuape, the state Commissioner for Youths and Sports, said the scheme would also aid the agro-allied production value-chain needed to revive the economy.

    Amosun, who  lauded  the NYSC management for the idea,  further said it would  stem the tide of rejection of some corps members by employers and expand service integration.

    He  called on employers to help contribute to national development by absorbing corps members and engaging them in useful activities in line with the development programmes of the state.

    “Any nation that aspires to survive should at least grow what it consumes.

    “As an administration, we have seen the potentials of agriculture toward  improving our economy if properly harnessed.

    “This is why for us, at the inception of our administration, we came up with a “5-Cardinal Programme” in which increased agricultural production that will lead to industrialisation is one of our focal points,” Amosun said.

    The governor urged the youths to continue to maintain the peace and unity of the nation in the spirit of the June 12 commemoration and in line with the founding objectives of the NYSC scheme.

    “The success and development we crave as a nation can only be achieved in unity. To remain one and continue to live in peace with one another is sacrosanct,” Amosun said.

    The NYSC Coordinator in the state, Mrs Gladys Mbachi , commended the corps members for the discipline displayed during the course of the orientation exercise.

    Mbachi also urged them to maintain the standards at their places of primary assignments.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that  2,471 corps members, who registered for the orientation exercise, were  posted  to their places of primary assignments.

    They were made up  of 1,048 males and 1,423 females.

  • Gombe Corps members laud D-G’s initiative on skills acquisition

    Corps members serving in Gombe State have lauded the initiatives of Brig-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, Director General of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) in equipping them with skills that would enable them become self-reliant after their service year.

    Some of them, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Gombe, said they were particularly happy with the decision to establish Skills Acquisition and Vocational Centers in each of the six geo-political zones of the country.

    Mr Justin Nicholag, a Corps member, said that the initiative would enable them fulfill their desire to gainfully engage themselves, instead of roaming streets in search of white collar jobs that were not available.

    He said they were trained in many trades during their orientation course at the camp, giving them the opportunity of knowing a lot that could help them in the future.
    “Before now, I was thinking of graduating and securing a white collar job, but inside the camp, I was trained in so many trades which I have decided to venture into after my service year, especially the agro-allied field,” he said.
    Miss Atigolo Timeyin, another corps member, also commended the D-G for establishing the projects in the country, adding that with such initiative, the NYSC scheme would have positive impact on the lives of Corps members after completion of service.
    “I am very pleased that this development is unfolding during my time; with the skills acquired, we have option of gainfully ‘employing ourselves’ if there is nobody to employ us, especially now that white collar jobs are very scarce,” she said.
    Also speaking to NAN, Aishatu Gaya said the Skills Acquisition centers would contribute positively for them to be independent after service.
    Gaya advised her colleagues to make the best use of the opportunity provided by being serious in learning trades.

    In her contribution, Miss Comfort Samuel said that the D-G’s initiative would not only help Corps members, but also their parents and communities.

    “Any serious Corps member should be able to pick something that he or she can rely on after the service year.

    “By so doing, we will not become liabilities to our parents or relations or the society in general, after completing our service,” she said.
    For Miss Elizabeth Christopher, “the idea will help the Corps members to be more creative than they used to be,” and therefore urged facilitators to be dedicated to the cause for the programme was introduced.

    NAN reports that on Thursday, Kauzaure inspected the NYSC Integrated Skills Acquisition and Vocational Centre for the North- East zone in Lafiawo town of Gombe state.

     

  • DG NYSC expresses FGs commitments towards empowering corps members

    DG NYSC expresses FGs commitments towards empowering corps members

    Brig-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, Director-General, National Youth service Corps (NYSC) said on Thursday that the Federal Government was committed to   empowering corps members with skills to enable them become self-employed after their  service.

    Kazaure stated this when he inspected the NYSC Integrated Skills Acquisition and Vocational Centre project for the North- East zone in Lafiawo town of Akko Local Government in Gombe state , currently under construction.

    He said similar centres would be sited in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country.

    Kzaure said the projects would not only enable the corps members to be self-employed, but also become employees of labour after their service year.

    “When we come on board, we discovered that we have problem of post-camp training in skills acquisition and therefore decided to initiate a project in the six geo-political zones.

    “If you look at the number of corps members we are producing, no government or private organizations can employ all of them,” he said.

    According to him, the project is being embarked upon in collaboration with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bank of Industry (BOI).

    Kazaure expressed his satisfaction with the level of work on the projects in the state and urged the contractor to maintain standard.

    Mr Ibeh Chidube, NYSC Coordinator in Gombe said that the centre had the capacity to accommodate 500 corps members and 20 facilitators.

    He then commended the effort of the D-G for his initiative, and Gombe state government, for their support

  • NYSC mulls re-opening orientation camp in Maiguguri

    NYSC mulls re-opening orientation camp in Maiguguri

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) said on Tuesday that it was working towards re-opening of its Orientation Camp in Maiduguri following return of relative peace to the State.

    Brig:-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, Director- General of NYSC, gave the hint while speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri.

    Kazaure said NYSC was eager to re-open the camp following the return of peace to the state ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency.

    “There is relative peace now in the state, so we will like to come back as soon as possible. Remember, the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are still occupying the Orientation Camp”, he said.

    Kazaure said the camp would be re-opened once the IDPs were evacuated from it.

    “It is only in Borno that our corps members have yet to have their orientation camp in place.

    “We are ready to start our orientation the moment the State Government releases our camp to us”, he said.

    Kazaure commended the corps members serving in the state for their dedication and resilience.

    “If you notice, I asked them about their morale and they responded by saying morale high. That is how we measure the psychological frame of the corps members.

    “Minus the camp, every other thing is in place for them. This means that they are in good spirit, they are doing well”, he said.

    Kazaure thanked the state government for providing enhanced welfare and security for the corps members.

    “I am happy that the state government has been assisting in ensuring the welfare of the corps members.

    “I thank Gov. Kashim Shettima for that and implore other states to emulate the gesture by ensuring adequate welfare for corps members serving in their localities”, he said.

    Kazaure said the NYSC was working toward setting up six skills acquisition centers across the country to empower corps members with necessary skills.

    “We identified lack of tradeing skills as the major problem causing unemployment among NYSC members.

    “So we embarked on establishment of six skills acquisition centers in all the geopolitical zones of the country to help in training these young graduates to become self-reliant.

    “W have almost completed work on the center in Gombe which will serve states in the North East.
    He said the NYSC authority was also working on five other centres and were near completion.

    The director-general said the essence of the innovation was to produce corps members that would eventually become job creators rather than being job seekers.