Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Professor Tijjani Muhammad Bande, has hailed the National Youth Service Corps as a well-thought-out initiative for engagement of youths in the nation’s developmental strides.

He made the remarks today when he paid a courtesy visit to the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, in his office.
Bande stressed that matters of youth development were central to the progress of any country, adding that Nigeria had through the NYSC, demonstrated recognition of youths as critical assets.
The diplomat, who noted that the Scheme had broadened the knowledge of youths about the country and instilled patriotic zeal in them, 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, the Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, briefed his guest about the various strides of his administration, including the reinvigoration of the NYSC Ventures and the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme.
Ibrahim said in an unprecedented feat, the Scheme remitted over one billion Naira 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 with Corps Producing Institutions based in some African countries as well as relevant Nigerian regulatory and professional bodies during which 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 such as 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 and commencement of work on the one for the North Central; publication of nine books on the achievements of the Scheme; the establishment of a museum; the process of establishing the NYSC Radio, which as 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.

The Director General of National Youth Service Corp, Brigadier General Ibrahim Shuaibu has revealed that the Scheme’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development SAED will be boosted if the proposed National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund becomes reality.

He gave this assurance at the 2021 NYSC SAED Festival on Wednesday at Kubwa Orientation camp in Abuja where over 222 Corps Members are engaging in 3 days competitive in showcasing Corps entrepreneurial talents and products at the exhibition.

This edition has the theme: “NYSC SAED: a gateway to national development.”

While declaring the three days impactful vocational and entrepreneurship competition open, the DG said he is confident that the gains of the SAED programme will be enhanced if the proposed NYSCTF becomes a reality.

“Apart from providing adequate facilities for more impactful vocational and entrepreneurship training, it will also be a sustainable source of business financing for the Corps members. That way, we will be achieving greater feats in empowering our graduate youths for self-employment and wealth creation.

He therefore, appealed to the relevant authorities to support the actualization of the Trust Fund that believe will help to reduce unemployment amongst Nigerian Youth.

Speaking on the importance of the festival, the Director General said that the programme is taking place in line with Management’s resolve to reinvigorate and deepen the impact of the SAED programme.

“It is a platform for showcasing the innovation, commitment and ingenuity of our Corps members, who have keyed into our vision of raising a crop of young entrepreneurs that will not only strive in the development of Small and Medium Enterprises, but also inspire other youths towards self-employment.

“Over the next few days, these young men and women will be competing in the display of skills in various vocations such as fashion design, baking/confectionaries, leather works, bead making, tie and dye, as well as Information and Communication Technology (ICT). In effect, the event will be an illustration of the functionality and growing acceptance of the SAED training as well as the enormous potential of our Corps members. It will further be an avenue for peer review and improvement of their creativity and business ideas.”

He equally highlighted some steps taken by the Scheme in strengthen SAED programme, which include; Hosting of NYSC SAED Stakeholders’ meeting in 2020 and 2021 respectively, during which the programme implementation strategies were reviewed; Renewal of commitment by NYSC and the Bank of Industry towards resuscitation of the empowerment of Corps entrepreneurs with business loans under the BOI-NYSC Graduate Empowerment Fund (GEF);

Others are development of partnership with Unity Bank Plc on a programme named ‘Corpreneurship Challenge Initiative’, under which Corps members that emerge winners of a business plan development competition benefit from

Financial grants to actualize their business dreams. Commencement of partnership with Access Bank Plc on the “Accesspreneur – The NYSC Edition” business plan development competition which empowers Corps members with business grants;

Partnership with Leventis Foundation Nigeria on Youth Empowerment in Sustainable Agriculture through year-long training and apprenticeship amongst others.

He urged the corps members to make themselves available for self-employment through the SAED, adding that corps members can drive their business visions with passion for their individual benefit and the growth of the nation’s economy at large.

In his opening remarks, the Director SAED, Mr. Hilary Nasamu, said the Festival is contributing in no small measure to the continued relevance of the scheme to our dear nation.

2021 SAED Festival is a follow-up to the maiden edition in 2017, designed to develop Corps member’s competitive but healthy entrepreneurial spirit and showcase the finesse of the products of their endeavor.

“It also aims to bring the public spotlight on the SAED and Corps entrepreneurs as well as expose them to opportunities for peer review and mentorship.

“Over the next 3 days, a total of 222 skill competitors will engage themselves in a process that will produce three top prize winners in each of the skills.

“Even though a few will emerge tops, all of you and the Scheme will be winners ultimately, as this event will serve to expose your talents to public patronage and sponsorship.”

However, on Friday 17th of December 2021 those Corps Members who will emerge top winners will be awarded with prizes.

The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Ahmed Mustapha Habib and the Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko have been nominated for awards by UK-based media group, TheNigerian News.

While the NEMA boss will be conferred with an award of excellence as “Agent of Change”, his NPA counterpart is shortlisted for “Integrity Icon”.

The pair will be recognised at the company’s fifth anniversary scheduled for the NAF Conference Centre Abuja.

“In less than six months on the job, Mr Habib has stamped his feet, already surpassing expectations. Under his watch, NEMA has beere-engineereded to meet up with present humanitarian challenges bedevilling country,” a statement by Bridget Agada, the secretary of the award’s planning committee said.

“To enhance performance, staff have undergone retreats while mechanisms at community, local government and staff levels have been put in place for effective emergency preparedness, early warning and quick response,” she noted.

The company added that Bello-Kobo has repositioned the NPA for better efficiency and service delivery.

“The new boss have been all about improving the revenue base of the nation, enhancing the maritime sector while also ensuring that the country is not shortchanged in anyway,” the statement said.

“Revenue leakages have been effectively blocked with the automation of key ports operations, periodic introduction of cost-cutting measures and financial management strategies. Bello-Kobo also worked closely with externally audited accounts that are International Financial Reporting Standard compliant”.

The event will be chaired by the Honourable Minister of Special Duties, Senator (Dr) George Akume while His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano is Father of the Day.

The National Youth Service Corps and its Director-General, Brig-Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim, His Excellencies, Ambassador Tukur Buratai, Governor Mai Mala Buni, Governor Abdullahi Sule and Governor Bala Mohammed will also be awarded.