New NYSC Scheme in Nigeria to Revive Entrepreneurship

The National Youth Service Corps Year comprises of four (4) main segments in which every Corps Members must satisfactorily participate before he/she is qualified to be issued a certificate of National Service. The service year therefore comprises of: Orientation Courses, Primary Assignment, Community Development Service and Winding – Up/Passing –out.

According to the NYSC website, ''The NYSC scheme was created in a bid to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian Civil war. The unfortunate antecedents in our national history gave impetus to the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps by decree No.24 of 22nd May 1973 which stated that the NYSC is being established with a view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity".

The Minister of Youth Development and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalong, has said the Federal Government of Nigeria plans to expand the National Youth Service Corps (NYSE) scheme to include skill acquisition entrepreneur and professional programs in a new scheme to revive entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

He said, “Apart from the basic orientation programme, the NYSC scheme should also move into including professional and enterprising programmes to support and motivate those who would not want to embrace public services in the country.

“After the mandatory one-year service, the Federal Government is planning an extension, to professionally train interested corps members in skill acquisition, enterprising and professional programs.

“Corps members with keen interest would be retained and some financial token given to them as start-up capital in furtherance of their skill.

“This is because due to our research, we found out that people abandon school due to uncertainty of the future. Hence, we believe this would help reduce the unemployed graduate ratio and curtail pressure on white-collar job as a means to win the war against poverty.”

The minister explained that graduates who received addition training after the mandatory one-year service would be provided with a start-up capital at the end of the training to start or partner with a new business.

“We cannot dismiss the gains of the NYSC scheme in integrating Nigeria; I will stand firmly for the sustenance of the system, to continue in its capacity-building of Nigeria citizens because, it is an indispensable aspect of diversifying our culture,” he said.

He said, “Nigeria did not plan to have the number of graduates in this present dispensation. If we had planned effectively, the concept of NYSC camping would have started with a permanent and effective structure.

“The visionaries of the scheme did not anticipate the lifespan of the scheme after the Civil War; the implementation of the scheme was a strategy to mobilise and integrate Nigerians together, hence, the huge number of graduates each year has put much pressure on the facilities, calling for constant renovation and upgrading.”

The Director-General of NYSC, Brig. Gen. Johnson Bamidele Olawumi, expressed gratitude to the minister for his visit and promised that his administration would do its best to uplift the NYSC scheme towards the economic growth and development of the country.

Visit http://www.nysc.gov.ng/ for more information about the NYSC program in Nigeria