By Oyibo Salihu
Lokoja
President Goodluck Jonathan has charged the incoming government to retain and sustain all youth programmes for the benefit of the country.
In a message to 2015 batch ‘A’ corps members at National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp, Asaya in Kabba/Bunu Local government area of Kogi state, the president, who was presented by Governor Idris Wada, said the outgoing administration had introduced training programmes, provided grants and loans as well as encouraged entrepreneurship to make youths self- reliant.
According to him, his administration has put in place many beneficial interventions that have increased the skills, self confidence and self-sufficiency available to youth.
The president, who was delighted over the unprecedented youth response to agriculture, added that the youth have rediscovered their potentials thereby making adequate incomes and producing more food with modern, exciting techniques and equipment.
He said: “Our government have been committed to supporting the NYSC scheme and positioning it firmly as a leading light of youth organisation in the world. I will expect that the necessary appropriation will continue to be provided to sustain the gains of the service corps and also provide the welfare and security need of all corps members throughout the nation.”
He, however, urged the incoming administration to maintain and sustain the youth programmes to reduce youth unemployment and restiveness.
Earlier, the state Coordinator, Mr Olabanji Bolanle Agata, disclosed that the 2015 batch ‘A’ corps members had a total of 1918 corps which comprises of 1094 males and 824 females.
Agata, who said the swearing in ceremony was to enable the corps members to take an oath of unalloyed service to their fatherland, pointed out the national service was a selfless, sacrificial service aimed at the twin concepts of nation building and social development.
She added that the corps members would be exposed to new approaches to business opportunities, modules and idea through skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development training which she said would span through the ten consecutive days on the camp.
She said: “The 10 days in-camp component of the training would focus largely on creating the entrepreneurial and self-reliant spirit, helping corps members explore various income generation opportunities available with a view to identifying the one that best suits their training.”