ABUJA – In a move aimed at addressing the growing unemployment challenges in Nigeria, the Federal Government has proposed extending the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme from its current one-year duration to two years. This proposal is part of a broader effort to enhance skill acquisition and promote job creation among young Nigerians.
The proposed extension will see an expansion of the NYSC’s Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, designed to provide corps members with practical skills that are crucial for self-employment and national development.
This development was unveiled during a recent courtesy visit by the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, to the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, in Abuja. The meeting highlighted key discussions and proposals aimed at improving the national service scheme.
Expanding Opportunities for Job Creation
In his remarks, Minister of Education Dr. Alausa commended the efforts of the NYSC in fostering youth empowerment and national development. He emphasized the need to provide more opportunities for corps members to become job creators, addressing the pressing needs of the country.
He said, “You have done so well as an organization. Let NYSC give people more opportunity to become job creators that will meet the needs of the country.”
Dr. Alausa also praised the NYSC for its proactive approach in digitizing the mobilization process. This digital transformation has been instrumental in tackling issues such as certificate racketeering, especially among foreign-trained graduates in West Africa. Furthermore, the Minister expressed his satisfaction with the resolution of long-standing concerns, particularly regarding Ordinary National Diploma (OND) part-time graduates who now qualify for national service after obtaining full-time Higher National Diploma (HND) qualifications.
Strengthening National Collaboration
The Minister highlighted ongoing efforts within the Ministry of Education to further digitize the verification process for Nigerian graduates trained abroad, which will enhance transparency and accuracy in the national service process.
He also urged the NYSC and the Ministry to continue strengthening their collaboration to improve the education sector and support national development, particularly by addressing manpower shortages in rural schools.
“We must deploy more graduate teachers to rural schools. This would help fill the manpower gap and improve the education standards in these areas,” Dr. Alausa added.
NYSC’s Commitment to National Policies
Brigadier General Nafiu expressed the NYSC’s unwavering commitment to aligning with national policies and reforms. He assured that the scheme is ready to comply with government directives and continue reforming its operations to better serve the current needs of Nigeria.
He further called for the establishment of a comprehensive database to track Nigerian youths studying abroad. Such a database would help eliminate the issue of fake graduates and enable better planning for youth employment policies.
“This would help the government and stakeholders in the education sector to have detailed records of Nigerian students abroad and eliminate fake graduates,” said Brigadier General Nafiu.
A Collaborative Effort for Educational Advancement
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to deeper collaboration with the NYSC to enhance the education system in Nigeria.
“We are ready to work with NYSC more effectively towards uplifting the standard of education in the country,” he stated.
Conclusion
The proposed two-year extension of the NYSC scheme is a significant step in addressing youth unemployment and equipping Nigerian youths with the necessary skills for economic self-sufficiency. By expanding the SAED programme and continuing to digitize its processes, the NYSC aims to empower corps members to become job creators who can drive national development.
As the Ministry of Education and the NYSC continue to collaborate on improving education and employment opportunities, it is hoped that this initiative will make a lasting impact on Nigeria’s future workforce.