Nigeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has commended the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the country, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim and his management for achieving a major feat in the annals of the scheme.
The Minister gave the commendation on Thursday when he paid a visit to the NYSC TV and radio studios at the headquarters of the organization in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Speaking as a guest on NYSC radio, 88.3 Fm, the Minister asserted that the power of communication cannot be overemphasised.
“In an era of unregulated social media journalism, we should all be worried about fake news. With the danger posed by misinformation and miscommunication, credible outlets like the NYSC TV and radio is poised to bridge the gap, and be a reliable source of authentic information for the youth and the society at large”.
He expressed satisfaction that the media outlet was commissioned by Gen. Yakubu Gowon, whose brain-child as former Head of state, was the NYSC scheme.
“It is gratifying that the visionary behind the establishment of the NYSC scheme, Gen. Yakubu Gowon was the one that commissioned the TV and radio station. It is just enough for me that the man that had the vision was here to see that vision blossom, and grow into what it is, right now” the Minister enthused.
As the first Youth-based broadcast station, the Minister affirmed that the activities of the NYSC across the country, unique information about youth development and giant strides of the Youth in various sectors of Nigeria’s socio-economic life will form the core of broadcast programmes.
“I want to call on all Youth to devote 20 or 30 mins daily, or when you are driving, let it be on NYSC radio and you can also participate in interactive call-in programmes. The youth needs to own this radio, the content will come from both sides. It will come from presenters at the studio and from youth who will come in and participate in your programmes. There is what they call selective listening or selective auditioning. That’s the power every individual has to select the kind of information or content they want. I’m saying they should exercise that selective power to listen to NYSC radio and TV” the Minister emphasised.
Emphasising on Youth development
On Youth Development, Dare commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment which has translated to over 45 youth empowerment programmes domiciled in 7 to 8 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
In the Youth and Sports Ministry, the Minister pointed out the N75bn Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) approved for a three year period by the President. N25bn for each year, in which over 6,200 beneficiaries have already received between N250,000 to N3m, while another 25,000 youth, already trained, will soon be funded.
”The NYIF is feasible because President Buhari keyed into a paradigm shift in youth development, that we must move from empowerment to investment. We’ve seen the potentials in our youth and we need to invest in them, give them some kind of capital, some kind of finance that can help them start up, become thriving entreprenuers, creators of wealth and employers of labour”, Dare added.
He urged Nigerian youths to utilise their time on the internet to search and apply for various Federal Government initiatives for youth development, emphasising that the time for pessimism over government programmes is over.
Emmanuel Ukoh
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