NYSC Partners Financial Institutions For Business Loans To Corps Members – DG
BY NGOZI NWANKWO, ABUJA – The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has entered into partnership with many financial institutions and foundations that are ready to offer loans to Corps members to start businesses.
Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Yakubu D. Ahmed, who stated this on Thursday, May 2, 2024, said that was as a result of the realisation that skill acquisition and empowerment remain the antidotes to the increasing rate of youth unemployment in the country.
Brig-General Ahmed said that was why the management of the Scheme introduced the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development training into its Orientation Course content in 2012 to empower Corps members with relevant skills that can make them financially independent instead of searching for unavailable salary jobs.
He therefore advised Corps members to embrace skills acquisition in order to become self-independent and job creators.
The NYSC Director-General who stated these while interacting with Corps members during his visit to the Plateau State Temporary Orientation Camp in Doi-Du and also Benue State Orientation Camp in Wannune, advised Corps members to learn at least a skill while in camp and thereafter follow up with post-camp training in order to perfect their skills for better output.
In the words of Ahmed; “We are into partnership with many financial institutions like the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Access Bank, Unity Bank, Bank of Industry (BOI), NNPC Foundation among others that are ready to offer loans for you to start your businesses.
“Many of your predecessors that accepted this offer before are now business owners in different vocations across the country”, he said.
The NYSC Boss therefore urged Corps members to beware of people with negative characters and avoid actions that can make them run foul of the law.
Ahmed also enjoined the Corps members to respect the culture and traditions of their host communities and live peacefully with the residents.
Briefing the Director General, the Plateau State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Esther Oluwatosin Ikupolati said that all the 1,551 Corps members consisting of 798 males and 753 females are well-behaved and have been participating actively in all camp activities.
Similarly, the Benue State Coordinator of the Schem, Mr Abe Dankaro Ashumate said the synergy between the camp officials and cooperation from the Corps members have helped towards maintaining law and order within the camp.
Ashumate said; “All the 1,656 Corps members are exceptionally disciplined and have joined the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development training”.
