Amb. Tijjani Bande, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations has hailed the National Youth Service Corps for engaging youths in the nation’s developmental strides.
He made the remarks on Wednesday, in Abuja when he paid a courtesy visit to the NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim.
Bande stressed that matters of youth development were central to the progress of any country.
“Nigeria has through the NYSC, demonstrated recognition of youths as critical assets,” he said.
The diplomat said the Scheme has broadened the knowledge of youths about the country and instilled patriotic zeal in them.
Bande also expressed delight at its current focus on the empowerment of Corps members for self-employment.
He commended Ibrahim for his achievements since taking office as Chief Executive of the Scheme.
Earlier, Ibrahim briefed Bande on the various strides of his administration.
They include the reinvigoration of the NYSC Ventures and the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme.
Ibrahim said in an unprecedented feat, the Scheme remitted over N1bn generated as revenue from its various ventures to the federal account between 2020 and 2021.
The Director-General further stated that in a bid to enhance the credibility of the mobilization process and safeguard the nation’s education system, the Scheme held separate meetings.
Such, he noted, were held with with Corps Producing Institutions based in some African countries, as well as relevant Nigerian regulatory and professional bodies.
According to him, during the meetings, measures were evolved to address the identified problems.
He spoke of the role of the NYSC in the fight against COVID-19 through Corps members’ activities.
They include: Public sensitization, as well as production and distribution of face masks, hand sanitizer and liquid soap amongst others.
Ibrahim also enumerated other achievements, including the completion of NYSC North West and South West Zonal Skill Acquisition Centres, as well as the commencement of work on the one for the North Central.
Others are the publication of nine books on the achievements of the scheme; the establishment of a museum; the process of establishing the NYSC Radio, which is at advanced stage; and the construction of NYSC Printing Press in Kaduna.
The UN Ambassador was taken on a guided tour of some sections of the NYSC Headquarters complex, including the newly established museum, the studio of the proposed NYSC Radio, and the site of the ICT Centre under construction.
He was accompanied on the visit by the Director, International Organizations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Samson Itegboje.