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General news

One die as 3,799 corps members complete service in Ogun

NYSC

By Temitope Salami

Abeokuta, Oct. 18, 2018 (NAN) About 3,799 corps members for the 2017 Batch ‘B’ Stream 1 in Ogun, who completed their service year on Thursday have been charged to keep themselves busy and utilise lessons learnt.

The NYSC Ogun Coordinator, Mrs Josephine Bakare, gave the charge at the Passing-out Parade of the corps members, comprising 2026 females and 1773 males.

The coordinator advised the youths to use the opportunity to engage themselves in self-development endeavours, rather than wait on non-existent jobs.

She inspired them to be the best they could be, adding that it is only by investing in themselves that they could achieve greater heights.

“One opportunity opened to you is entrepreneurship, which has become the centre-piece of self-empowerment as preached by the NYSC scheme.

“It is my earnest hope that a large percentage of you will become job creators rather than job seekers.

“Don’t waste time to wait for jobs that are not forthcoming.

“It is this attitude that will take you to the pinnacle of whatever pursuit you embark upon, marking you for great exploits,’’ Bakare advised.

She urged the corps members not to involve themselves in illegal activities that could tarnish their image.

The corps members were also urged to imbibe the spirit of humility, service and dedication as they enter into the larger society.

The coordinator said that about 25 corps members ran afoul of the NYSC bye-laws and did not complete the programme.

She added that pending directives from the national body of the scheme, those affected will either get elongated service or asked to repeat the programme as deemed fit.

She also said that one corps member died of kidney-related complications a day before the passing out parade. (NAN)
TDS/KOLE/AIB
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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Abdulfatah Babatunde

Health

Security dictates NYSC’s low key POP

Security dictates NYSC’s low key POP
NAN-HG-5
Passing-out
By Yashim Katurak
Abuja, Dec. 21, 2017 (NAN) The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says it held a low key passing-out ceremony nationwide for the 2016 Batch B Stream II set of corps members to ensure their safety by restricting movement.
Mr Bello Ballama, the NYSC FCT Coordinator, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday after addressing corps members at the Orientation Camp, Kubwa.
He said that the scheme has for some years observed a low key Passing-Out Parade (POP) in order not to risk the lives of corps members especially in parts of the country where it was not safe.
Ballama, however, assured that the scheme hoped to resume the usual annual passing-out ceremony as soon as it was safe to do so.
He urged the corps members to put into practice all they have learnt during the service year especially the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme (SAED).
Ballama also urged the corps members to remain good citizens, abide by the country’s laws and stay away from negative behaviour and crime.
“The corps members are the leaders of tomorrow and the service year has been a learning ground for them; they have learned a lot.
“We exposed them to so many training including SAED which is meant to teach them skills that will make them equipped for life after the service year.
“This should reduce their search for white collar jobs that is not available and make them more self-reliant and independent,” Ballama said.
Mr Anthony Dirisu, a corps member and graduate of Public Administration from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, said he achieved the aim of the service year by making friends from diverse cultures.
Dirisu hailed the aim of establishing the NYSC to promote national integration, adding that he has learned about other cultures and religions that he knew nothing about.
He said that although he joined the Agro-Allied skills training of the NYSC SAED programme he would still make effort to look for a job as he did not have the funds to start up any business.
“The training I received was enough for me to start my business if I get the loan.
“Although the NYSC has said we can use our certificate as collateral to get loan I cannot give out my certificate because I do not know how sincere the scheme is about that.
“I will hold unto my certificate and look for a job instead,” Dirisu said.
Miss Sabo Riticatmwa, a corps member and graduate of Leisure and Tourism Management from Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, said the service year was a success for her as she learned the skill of cosmetology.
She said cosmetology was the art of soap making and detergent production, adding that although she had the skills to start a business lack of funds remained her challenge.
According to Riticatmwa, it is the funds to start this business that will be the issue and I cannot drop my certificate to get loan.
“I rather try my best to source for the funds I need to start the business rather than drop my certificate as collateral to get loan,” Riticatmwa said.
NAN reports that the NYSC had earlier told newsmen that corps members interested in obtaining loan facility could do so using their certificates as collateral.
The financial institutions offering loan facilities to corps members include Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bank of Industry (BoI), the NYSC Foundation and Heritage Bank, among others.
Some of the institutions offer the facility at zero interest rate and corps members whose business plans are approved can get loan to the tune of N400,000 to N2 million.
A total of 4,411 corps members passed-out from the 2016 Batch B Stream II service year in the FCT.
However, one corps member died from a brief illness, while 25 corps members have been given an extension of service for various infractions. (NAN)
KRY/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

NYSC D-G tasks passing out corps members

NAN-H-79
NYSC
By Yashim Katurak
Abuja, Nov. 2, 2017 (NAN) Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, the Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has advised passing out corps members not to depend on white collar jobs but be self-employed and employers of labour.

Kazaure gave the advice in Abuja on Thursday as the 2016 Batch B Stream I set of corps members in the FCT completed their service.

He advised the corps members not to be idle or wait for white collar jobs but put into good use the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme (SAED) they participated in during the one year mandatory service.

He said that the programme afforded them the opportunity to learn various skills and urged the corps members to put them into practice.

“Congratulations on a successful service year. You will all agree with me that the journey was not an easy one but you have done well. We thank God for keeping us alive to witness today.

“I want you to consider all you have learned during the service year as something very important; you have been privileged to learn SAED; so, try as much as possible to be self-employed.

“You have been trained and equipped not just to be self employed but employers of labour; so, utilise this opportunity and justify the training you received.”

Kazaure said that the scheme could not hold the passing out ceremony for security reasons.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 4,970 corps members passed out from the 2016 Batch B Stream I service year in the FCT. (NAN)
KRY/MNA/NKO
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Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Nkechi Okoronkwo

Health

NYSC boss says Banks ready to give corps members loans

NYSC boss says Banks ready to give corps members loans

NAN-H-46

NYSC

By Yashim Katurak

Abuja, April 7, 2017 (NAN) The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has assured corps members passing out from the one year national service that loan facilities would still be available to them to start their businesses.

Mr Abdulrazak Salawu, the NYSC FCT Coordinator, said this while addressing the 3,468 corps members of the 2016 Batch `A’ Stream I during their passing out in Abuja on Friday.

Salawu, who noted that there were no white-collar jobs lined up, said financial institutions were still ready to grant loans to corps members who were interested in starting up and running their own businesses even after the service year.

“Financial institutions are still ready to give you loans even after your service year.

“The Bank of Industry, Heritage bank, even the NYSC Foundation is still ready to give you loans to start up your businesses.

“Some of you do not know what it means to pass out from national service until next month when the alert will not sound again; that is when you will remember that certainly you are no longer corps members and there is no N19,800 again.

“Because of that, we have prepared you through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme (SAED); some of you, I am sure, are already making money.

“And if you need money to continue, the banks are still open to you.

“Try to be employers of labour, do not be job seekers; it is not easy to live in this present day Nigeria if you are not earning anything,” he said.

Salawu also urged the corps members to remain good citizens of Nigeria as the scheme had tried to imbue them with the spirit of selflessness, discipline, humility and self-reliance.

He said that out of the 3,468 corps members passing out, about 25 were given letters of commendation and awards.

Salawu said that the 25 corps members embarked on projects and participated fully in the community development service and programmes that impacted positively on the lives of people in their host communities.

He also said that the scheme did not hold its usual closing ceremony due to economic and security problems in the country.

“We did not hold a closing ceremony because we are looking at the security situation in the country; right now the economic situation is also not giving us the opportunity to go into serious ceremonies.

“These corps members are coming from different parts of the country and so we cannot give room for any unforeseen circumstances.

“That is why we gathered them here today so we can disperse them within the shortest possible time,” Salawu said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Mr Salawu Akanni, a graduate of the Federal University of Agriculture, Ogun, was one of the recipients of the award.

Akanni had, during his service year, constructed three water piping systems for the Aghayapho Community and provided a directional signpost for the LEA primary school in the community.

He also rehabilitated the community water borehole, donated 10 wooden chairs to the LEA primary school and trained 40 students in Government Secondary School (GSS) Jabi on Sustainable Development Goals, among other projects. (NAN)

KRY/HAS/MST

Edited By Hajia Sani/Muhammad Suleiman Tola