By Saheed Ibrahim
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The Ondo State National Youth Service Corps Coordinator, Mrs. Victoria Nnenna Ani, has called on relevant political stakeholders and individuals to support the NYSC Trust Fund Bill, currently awaiting assent by President Bola Tinubu.
The Funds would be financed with a levy of one per cent of the net profit of companies and organised private sector operating business in Nigeria; 0.2 per cent of total revenue accruing to the federation account, takeoff grants, and special intervention fund provided by the federal, state and local governments of the Federation.
It is believed that, this would generate greater percentage of resources corps members trained in the NYSC skill acquisition programmes need to start up their businesses.
Notable groups and individuals, including Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has called on ex-President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the bill into law before leaving office.
Ani, stated that assent to the bill would expand the scope of the NYSC and make the youth global players.
She disclosed this, while contributing to the debate on youth mentoring, organised by Mind-the-Gap, a Google supported programme for 2023 Batch ‘B’ (Stream II) Corps members at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko.
“I want to use this platform to appeal to our political class, as well as the executive arm of government to encourage Mr. President to assent the NYSC Trust Fund bill.
“I want to assure you that if this is done, the NYSC’s scope will be expanded to further give our youths the encouragement and mentorship needed to be global players in all human endeavours.” she said.
Mrs. Ani asserted that NYSC is a pathfinder whenever the issue of youth mentoring is mentioned globally and added that the challenges, though overwhelming, has strengthened the youth organisation to be more resilient and dynamic in its approach.
She added that, “The NYSC is regarded as a trailblazer when it comes to investing in youth development and this is evident in the success story the Scheme has recorded over the last five decades”.
“I want to let you know that the society needs to do more if we really want our youths to be more engaging and productive.”
The NYSC Ondo State boss, advised government to partner with notable and well established private bodies to fashion out a policy that will engender continuous monitoring of youths in order to achieve the desired goals.
