Former head of state and founder of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), General Yakubu Gowon, has appealed to all Nigerians, corporate organisations, agencies of government and others to support the Scheme to consolidate on the successes recorded in the last 50 years.
Gowon spoke in Abuja yesterday at the commissioning of NYSC Information Communication Technology (ICT) Centre as part of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the scheme.
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He called on state governments to intensify efforts on setting up and upgrading of the facilities in their orientation camps so as to provide a conducive environment that would enhance hitch-free training of corps members during their three weeks’ orientation period.
The founder of the scheme also reiterated that NYSC has remained a vital reference point and a tool for fostering national unity and integration in Nigeria
“I appeal to all Nigerians, corporate organisations, ministries, departments and agencies of government, philanthropists, religious organisations and other stakeholders to provide every necessary support for the National Youth Service Corps to enable it consolidate on the successes recorded in the last 50 years.
“As the Scheme celebrates its Golden Jubilee of selfless and laudable contributions to the development of our dear country, I pray for Presidential Assent of the proposed NYSC Trust Fund, which would make possible a turnaround of events for the Scheme, most especially, in the improvement of training facilities of the scheme, provision of start-up capital to corps members to finance their businesses in line with the skills they acquire through the NYSC SAED programme among other benefits.
“To end, please allow me to once again, salute the doggedness of my dear corps members and congratulate the entire NYSC family on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of our dear scheme as we look forward to more years of impactful! contributions to the nation in all areas of human endeavour,” he added.