Joseph Bakare
The Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja has commended the National Youth Service Corps for its efforts in Corps empowerment, rural development, human capital development, numerous innovations in digitalization of operations among others.
It also said the involvement of Corps Members in series of national assignments like elections, population census and immunization programmes are worthy of commendation alongside the Scheme’s roles in leadership training and fostering of national unity.
The Team Lead of the participants of Leadership and Strategic Studies Course 3/2024 from the resource centre, Major General AA Tarfa stated this when he led 35 participants comprising 1 Colonel and 34 Lieutenant Colonels on an academic tour to the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
He lauded the Scheme for its continued support for the Nigerian Army Resource Centre.
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.
In his remarks, the NYSC Director General (DG) Brigadier General YD Ahmed added that the Scheme has empowered more than Three Million Ex-Corps Members through its Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development training.
He said Corps Members at different times have also provided free medical services through the NYSC Health Initiative For Rural Dwellers (HIRD) programme to millions of indigent Nigerians that cannot afford hospital bills.
General Ahmed stated further that the Legal Aids Corps, a Community Development Service group of Corps Lawyers have secured the release of many inmates who cannot afford to pay their court fines from different correctional centres across the country.
Also addressing the course participants, the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Alhaji Ahmed Wada Ikaka gave an historical perspective of the NYSC with its four cardinal programmes.
He informed them that a total of 5,820,170 Ex-Corps Members have participated in the Scheme since inception.
He said 3,350,854 among them have acquired different vocational skills through the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development training.
The participants were later led on a guided tour of the NYSC digital museum including the Scheme’s radio and television studios.