NYSC Trust Fund ‘ll strengthen scheme’s operations — General Ibrahim
By Uji A. Iliyasu
Abuja
The Director-General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-General Shuaibu Ibrahim, has said that NYSC Trust Fund will strengthen the operations of the scheme in the same manner as other trust funds.
General Ibrahim stated this at a symposium on the imperative of the proposed NYSC Trust Fund (NYSCTF) held in Abuja Monday, with the theme, ‘Consolidating the Gains of the NYSC in Youth Empowerment and National Development in the Face of Current Economic Realities’.
The DG described the proposed fund as a reliable and sustainable source of business financing for corps entrepreneurs, assuring that the bill is currently undergoing some finishing touches before it is presented to the National Assembly.
He further said that the fund will surely help to stimulate and accelerate the nation’s economic growth and development as well as ensuring drastic reduction in youth restiveness, violence and criminal tendencies.
“Part of the resolutions of the 2021 meeting is the proposal for the establishment of a dedicated fund that will be backed by law to complement resource allocation from the three tiers of government. The fund, which will be called the National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund (NYSCTF) is expected to strengthen the operations of the Scheme in the same manner the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, the Police Equipment Trust Fund and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund aid the operations of tertiary educational institutions, the Nigeria Police as well as the oil and gas industry respectively.
“When operational, the NYSCTF will help address infrastructural and other logistic needs for the smooth conduct of orientation courses, provision of corps lodges, corps transit camps and other essential facilities for the welfare of corps members.
“In addition, resources from the fund will support staff training for higher productivity as well as logistic requirements for special aspects of our Community Development Service, such as the medical outreaches conducted under the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers,” he said.
A cross section of participants at the symposium
Enlightening the audience on the importance of the fund in tackling the challenges of the scheme, General Ibrahim said, “In a very significant way, the fund will also focus on making the SAED programme of the scheme more functional through adequate provision of training facilities. It will further serve as a reliable and sustainable source of business financing for corps entrepreneurs that would emerge from the programme.
“The ripple effects of this will be such that the benefitting corps members will in turn create jobs for millions of other Nigerians through either step-down of vocational training or direct employment of youths of the host communities.
“At this juncture, I wish to once again appeal for the support of all stakeholders, including the higher authorities, towards actualising the NYSC Trust Fund.
“This will be one of the most valuable gifts of the nation to its youths, in whose enormous potentials the hope of a greater Nigeria rests.
“As managers of the scheme, we wish to assure the federal government and, indeed, the generality of Nigerians that such a laudable initiative will be justified through greater commitment to the success of the NYSC mandate”
On his part, the FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello, said the National Youths Service Corps has the capacity to effectively drive Nigeria’s economic recovery process. Bello spoke when he declared open the two-day symposium.
Represented by Director, Youth and Social Development Secretariat of the FCT, Mrs Asabe Umar, added that the scheme can do this through the empowerment of its teeming youth, given the budding talents at its disposal.
The minister stated that NYSC is one of the most cherished national institutions bequeathed to the country to foster unity, integration and national development after the unfortunate civil war.
“Over the years however, the realisation of the objectives for establishing the scheme has been hampered by myriad of challenges.
“They include funding, provision of infrastructure and lately start-up capital for corps members trained through the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme ,” the minister said.
He however, commended General Ibrahim for rising to the occasion to address the challenges facing the scheme’s operations through the proposed trust fund.
Also speaking, Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Sunday Dare, represented by Assistant Director, Youth Rights and Leadership, Mr Despan Kwardam, said NYSC had continuously lived up to the dreams and aspirations of its founding fathers.
“This is evidenced by the numerous achievements of the scheme, though it has not come without challenges,” Kwardam said.
In his goodwill message, Chairman House Committee on Youth and Sports, Yemi Adaramodu, assured that the National Assembly will provide the legislative framework to facilitate the passage of the proposed Bill.
Speakers and stakeholders commended General Ibrahim for his foresight to establish the NYSC Youth Trust Fund, and promised to pursue the proposed Bill until passed into law.