The Minister of Youth Development, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, has unveiled plans to overhaul the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to better align with future demands.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting of NYSC management with heads of corps-producing institutions in Abuja on Monday, the minister revealed that a dedicated team would soon commence the review, restructuring, and reforms of the NYSC.
One of the key aspects of this reform agenda is to prioritise participants with an entrepreneurial mindset and elevate skills development within the programme.
Bio-Ibrahim emphasised the need to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the NYSC’s existing mandate, envisioning a future where the programme becomes not only self-sustained but also a revenue-generating initiative within the next five years. As part of this vision, the minister announced plans to institutionalise NYSC ventures as an investment and asset management outfit.
Furthermore, in a bid to support youth entrepreneurship, the minister disclosed that over 5,000 corps members will receive funding for their entrepreneurial ventures, with close to N10 million allocated for this purpose.
Welcoming heads of corps-producing institutions, NYSC Director-General Brigadier General Yushau’ Ahmed underscored the importance of enhancing the mobilisation process for prospective corps members. He highlighted the aim of the meeting: to identify and address obstacles, including delegations of roles to subordinates, with a view to ensuring a smoother mobilisation process.
In a related development, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Nyesom Wike, commended the NYSC’s initiative to convene critical stakeholders to strategize on achieving greater success. He praised the NYSC’s efforts to leverage technology-driven approaches and urged active participation from all attendees to contribute to the meeting’s success.
Wike also acknowledged the challenges faced by the NYSC and emphasised the importance of adopting innovative strategies to overcome them. He particularly lauded the scheme’s focus on enhancing operational efficiency through the use of IT solutions for data collection and processing.
The meeting, which marks a crucial step in addressing the operational policies of the NYSC, is expected to pave the way for a more responsive, efficient, and impactful National Youth Service Corps. Participants are encouraged to offer insightful contributions as they navigate the path ahead, with the ultimate goal of advancing national development efforts and ensuring the welfare of corps members.
