The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC in Nigeria has inaugurated its Information and Communication Centre as part of its 50th Anniversary celebration.
Speaking during the inauguration, which was held on 17th May at the Scheme’s National Directorate Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria’s former Head of State and the founding father of the scheme, General Yakubu Gowon (Retired), stated that the ICT centre is a major boost to the Scheme’s operations.
According to him, “The Digitization of the NYSC Mobilization process since 2014 is another attestation to the improvements of the Scheme operations which has made the registration of Prospective Corps members from any part of the globe a seamless exercise.
“The monthly clearance for Corps Members and other numerous ICT-related activities on the NYSC NIS platform is worthy of commendation.”
He commended NYSC for its immense contributions to the Socio-economic progress and development of the country.
Speaking on the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, SAED programme, he said that “The introduction of the programme into the Orientation Course content of the scheme since 2012 has been a blessing to the country.
“The NYSC SAED programme has created lots of job opportunities for many of our youths who are now business owners in different locations and also employers of labour.“
The former Head of State appealed to youths to pay serious attention to vocational training and skill acquisition as it is the best avenue to become financially independent instead of searching for non-available pay jobs.
Also speaking on the proposed NYSC Trust Fund, he said that he is optimistic that the bill will get presidential assent.
According to him, this will make a possible turn around of events for the Scheme, most especially, in the improvement of training facilities of the Scheme, provision of start-up capital to Corps Members to finance their businesses in line with the skills they acquire through the NYSC SAED programme among other benefits.
Gowon also appealed to Nigerians, Corporate Organizations, Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, Religious Organizations and other stakeholders to provide the necessary support for NYSC, to enable it to consolidate on the successes recorded in the last fifty years.
The Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed applauded the federal government for approving and releasing funds for the execution of the project.
He stated that the introduction of ICT in the scheme operations became inevitable and an important tool for the smooth running of all areas of Corps administration adding that the role of ICT in the 21st century cannot be over-emphasized.
“Over the years, the operations of NYSC have become heavily challenged with tons of data in its daily activities owing to the increasing number of Corps members.
“Most organisations and corporate entities have been transiting their processes and procedures from analogue to digital platform to promote delivery of excellence, fast, efficient, world class services with minimal errors and less human interference.
“NYSC has no reason not to lead the way. The vision of the Scheme is to become the leading light of youth organizations in Africa. This is premised on the fact that the youth, a vibrant segment of the national demography under the management of the Scheme has over the years been championing the use of ICT in bringing about a more efficient society, through their various ICT based and other services to the fatherland.“
PIAK
