By Nkechi Eze
The Minister for Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande has advocated for more reforms that would enable Corps Members become more relevant in today’s job market.
According to the minister, “efforts must also be put in place to make corps members useful to the society through agriculture, rural health, self- empowerment through skills among others”.
The Minister stated this today in his goodwill message at the opening ceremony of 2025 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Annual Management Conference held in Abuja.
Olawande, who advised that there should be National Internship Scheme that would be solely for youth empowerment also pledged the continued support of his Ministry for the NYSC.
Acting Director Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu in a official signed statement disclosed that earlier, the Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu in his address said the Annual Management Conference serves as a platform where the Scheme’s top management and other key officers critically review their activities from the past year, and develop new strategies for enhanced performance in a new year.
He added that the Conference would also help to establish a new agenda for the Scheme in its dedicated efforts to take the centre stage in its pursuit of National Development.
General Nafiu stated further that the theme of this year’s Management Conference; “Transforming the NYSC Scheme to Meet the Yearnings of Contemporary Nigerian Graduates and Society”, was borne out of the realization that both the Corps Members and Nation at large have recently demanded a change in the way of doing things.
He also lauded President Tinubu for the recent implementation of the reviewed allowance for Corps Members, likewise the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her unwavering support for Nigerian youths, which she consistently expresses through her various contributions to the NYSC Scheme.
“NYSC Management will continue to devise strategies and programmes that will better prepare the youths for the future ahead of them”, he said.
The FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, who was represented by the Mandate Secretary for Youth and Sports Hon. Ango A. Suleiman promised unalloyed support for the Scheme to thrive.
The Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Alhaji Ahmed Wada Ikaka in his introductory address said participants at the AMC would look inward, critically assess and fashion out ways of transforming the Scheme to meet the challenges of Nigerian graduates and the society.
