Army lauds NYSC for empowering over 3.3m Corps Members, driving nation-building
By Ukpono Ukpong
The Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja, has commended the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for empowering over 3.3 million Corps Members through its Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme and for its significant contributions to nation-building.
The Team Lead of the participants of the Leadership and Strategic Studies Course 3/2024 from the resource centre, Major General AA Tarfa, praised the Scheme’s efforts during an academic tour to the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja. He led 35 participants, including 1 Colonel and 34 Lieutenant Colonels, on the visit.
Major General Tarfa highlighted the NYSC’s critical role in Corps empowerment, rural development, human capital development, and innovations in the digitalization of operations.
He also commended the involvement of Corps Members in national assignments such as elections, population censuses, and immunization programmes, as well as the Scheme’s efforts in leadership training and promoting national unity.
General Tarfa said the tour would enable the participants to have a balanced knowledge of the operations of NYSC and also the prospects of the Scheme.
He stated further that the visit would enable them to understand the roles of NYSC in national development and national unity.
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In his remarks, the NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed, reaffirmed the Scheme’s commitment to empowering Corps Members.
He disclosed that over three million Ex-Corps Members have been trained in vocational skills through the SAED programme.
He further noted that Corps Members, under the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) programme, have provided free medical services to millions of indigent Nigerians.
Additionally, the Legal Aids Corps, a Community Development Service group of Corps lawyers, has facilitated the release of many inmates unable to pay court fines from various correctional centres across the country.
Alhaji Ahmed Wada Ikaka, Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics, provided an overview of the Scheme’s achievements since its inception.
He noted that a total of 5,820,170 Ex-Corps Members have participated in the Scheme, with 3,350,854 acquiring vocational skills through SAED.
The participants were also given a guided tour of the NYSC digital museum, radio, and television studios, gaining insights into the Scheme’s rich history and ongoing initiatives.
