The Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande has charged Corps Members with the need to equip themselves with market-driven skills while serving the country to secure their future.
This is in line with the Minister’s “One youth, two skills” initiative, which aims at empowering youths to play significant roles in developing the economy of the nation.
The Minister gave the charge while on a working visit to the Asaya National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC), orientation camp in Kabba, Kogi state, North Central Nigeria.
Olawande posited that the future of Nigeria would be greatly enhanced when the youths harnessed their potential and skills.
The Minister, who was welcomed to the orientation camp by the Kogi State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Williams M.A. said he was in the camp to check on the corps members whom he described as “my people.”
Addressing the corps members, the minister urged them to endeavour to learn skills, stating that the future of Nigeria depends largely on the number of its skilled youths.
He lamented that due to a lack of skill, some job opportunities that should have been given to Nigerian youths, especially in the private sector, are being taken by foreign nationals.
While speaking on the effort of his Ministry to change the narrative, Olawande said, “At the Ministry of Youth Development, we are encouraging every Nigerian youth to learn new skills. We are setting up the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), which would be a platform for every willing youth of this country to learn skills free of charge. For me, it is unacceptable for any Nigerian youth not to learn at least two skills.”
He further said, “We will keep doing our best to support every willing youth to acquire skills that are relevant to the needs of the global labour market.”
Before leaving the camp, Hon. Olawande inspected the facilities such as the hostels, clinic, kitchen, and the mammy market.
Earlier in her welcome address, the coordinator, Mrs. Williams appreciated the minister for visiting the camp. She likened the presence of the minister to that of the president, stating that the Kogi State NYSC family was honoured to have a representative of the president amid corps members in camp.
Dominica Nwabufo
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