NYSC Serves as Focal Point for National Unity—Youth Minister

NYSC Serves as Focal Point for National Unity—Youth Minister

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, has come out to defend the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), saying it has served as a vital focal point for national unity and integration in the country.

Speaking on Tuesday at the inauguration of the Reform Committee for the restructuring of the NYSC in Abuja, Dr. Bio-Ibrahim said that despite agitations from some quarters for the scheme to be scrapped, it has been a symbol of national unity and has impacted the lives of young people across the country.

“We have seen that modern things are coming up, and we have initiated various programs that have turned the lives of young people around through the scheme.

 “There have been opinions from different quarters to scrap the scheme, but we believe it is a vital scheme that has served as a model to other countries across the globe,” Ibrahim stated.

The minister also pointed out that other African countries and countries across the world have modeled their own youth service schemes after the NYSC, which she believes is a testament to its effectiveness.

“even from North to the South of the African Continent as well as across the globe, we have seen other Countries Modelling the NYSC and then taking it back home.

“We need to be proud of what we are doing right and sustain it. If they are clamoring for it to be scrapped, then the rest of the world is seeing it as a model,” she noted 

In light of this, the Minister announced that a committee would be set up to review the scheme and re-align it with contemporary economic and social needs.

The aim is to transform the NYSC into a dynamic skills center institution that will significantly contribute to national development and youth empowerment.

Prince Oyekunle Oyewumi, chairman of the committee, pledged to do a good job and come out with a positive outcome.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Olubunmi Olusanya, welcomed and congratulated members of the committee and urged them to work diligently to achieve a positive outcome.

 Bio-Ibrahim emphasized that the NYSC has been in operation for over 60 years and has played a significant role in shaping the lives of young people in Nigeria.

“It’s time for us to re-invent ourselves and move forward,” she said. “We must align ourselves with modern times and make sure that our youth are equipped with relevant skills to face the challenges of today’s world.”