As NYSC ultra-modern Radio and Television stations hit Airwaves, Stakeholders have been urged to support its sustainability.
The former head of State and the founding father of the Scheme, General Yakubu Gowon, at the official commissioning of the Radio and Television stations, in Abuja, said the cause of the Scheme, was to symbolizes national unity.
The establishment of NYSC Radio and Television station, according to General Gowon, is to raise a crop of youth entrepreneurs that would contribute to the country’s Gross Domestic Products through their exposure to the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development training.
He further said that the establishment of the two outfits was one of the greatest achievements of the National Youth Service Corps in recent times.
“I therefore, commend and urge the NYSC Management to sustain the tempo of its on-going strides which have kept the Scheme in the national and global limelight.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that the Scheme has in almost five decades of its existence successfully harnessed the potentials of our graduate youths as models for defining patriotism, credible and quality leadership as well as economic regeneration.
“These Media outfits will no doubt contribute towards enhancing and sustaining the capacity of the Scheme to consolidate its achievement as well as reach out to its global audience. In particular they will serve as veritable tools for driving our quest for national unity: cohesion and purposeful development.
“I am always delighted to note that Corps members have continued to render patriotic and selfless services to our dear country, especially as active participants in the implementation of national programmes such as elections, immunization, population census, advocacy programmes on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers and HIV/AIDS campaign, amongst others.
“ While commending the Scheme for sustaining its intervention in these critical areas, it is my sincere hope that these and other achievements would be given the widest publicity by the NYSC Radio and Television Stations in order to elicit increased support from the general public,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to the Nigerian governments at all levels for according priority to matters of youth development and the National Youth Service Corps in particular.
“It is my earnest expectation that Nigerians will not only find the NYSC Radio and Television Stations as reliable platforms for information dissemination, education and entertainment, but also ensure regular patronage of their services. In doing so, we will be demonstrating our collective determination to bequeath a better nation to future generations of Nigerians.
“Let me use this unique opportunity to once again express my support for the proposed NYSC Trust Fund. I am impressed with the progress being made on the legislative processes towards the passage of the Bill on the establishment of the Fund at the National Assembly. I look forward to the final conclusion of these processes and the eventual take-off of the Trust Fund, which promises to be a game-changer for the NYSC our graduate youths and the Nigerian economy,” he added.
The NYSC Director General, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim said the NYSC Radio broadcasts on Channel 88.3 FM in Abuja while the NYSC Television runs on TStv Channel 365.
According to him, the philosophy behind the establishment of these stations is multifaceted as the will educate and entertain, as well as give the Scheme a stronger voice to propagate the programmes and sensitize Nigerians on the policies of government, to promote national unity, national ethos, as well as values re-orientation.
He said, “Thus, they will contribute in redirecting the mindsets of Nigerians, especially the youth, towards things that are noble.”
The DG added that the stations would be primarily run by Corps Members under the supervision of relevant NYSC Staff members, who are meant to provide avenue to train and perfect the skills of successive hatches of Corps Members interested in pursuing careers in the broadcast industry, particularly in the areas of TV/Radio production, Engineering, programme presentation graphic design and content development, among others.
Confidence Okwuchi
