The management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Nigeria has inaugurated the North West skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Kazaure, Jigawa State, provided with the aim of the region.
The state of the Arts edifice built and equipped by Access Bank in partnership with NYSC has been formally handed over to the Scheme for take off.
Addressing the public during the handing over ceremony, the Jigawa State Governor, Mr. Abubakar Badaru who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Secretary to the Government, Alhaji Muhammed Dagacheri, said since the inception of NYSC, the Scheme has been complimenting the government efforts in the various sectors.
He also said that the centre will go a long way in supporting the youths of the North West zone to become self reliant, adding that the Jigawa State Government will work closely with the governors of the six states of the zone in supporting the fully take off of the centre.
According to him, the centre will not only engage youths but equally provide skills for them as this will reduce crimes there by making the society a safer place.
“Meanwhile, I hereby direct the special adviser on economic empowerment to urgently access the facilities in the centre so that the government will be in the position to know the level of support needed in the interim,” he said.
In his address, the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, represented by the Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Department, SAED, of the NYSC, Hilary Nasamu who commended the Access bank also said the project is part of the corporate social responsibility of the NYSC, adding that the centre will be beneficial to Corps Members as well as the teaming unemployed youths in the region.
“In partnership with the Access Bank, we are bringing corporate social responsibility to the doorstep of the common Nigerians. What we expect is that beyond the Corps Members, indigenes of this environment can also be trained here in good time, so that rather to been left to rot away in idleness, they can be skilled and in the process they become empowered to help the economy of the local environment and the nation at large.”
The Director also called on the people in the area to take the ownership of the project by ensuring that the building is protected and serve it’s purpose.
The centre is comprised of several units such as ICT, barbing and salon, sewing and fashion designing, baking and confessionary, well equipped accommodation among others.
