Gowon advises youths to embrace vocational training, skills

Former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon has urged Nigerian youths to embrace vocational training and skills in order to be self-sufficient and employers of labor.

Gowon made the appeal on Wednesday in Abuja while inaugurating the NYSC Information Communication Technology (ICT) center.

Gowon, who is the founder of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), also inaugurated the scheme’s Skills Acquisition and Empowerment Development (SAED) Program exhibition.

According to him, embracing vocational skills was the best avenue to achieve financial independence instead of searching for nonexistent white-collar jobs.

“The introduction of SAED into the orientation course content of the NYSC since 2012 has been a blessing, especially in the acquisition of skills by a large number of corps members that passed through the scheme.

“The program has created lots of job opportunities for many of our youths, who are now business owners in different locations and also employers of labor.”

He added that the digitization of the NYSC mobilization process since 2014 was another attestation to the improvement of the scheme's operations.

Gowon said that digitization has made the registration of prospective corps members from any part of the globe a seamless exercise.

“The monthly clearance for corps members and other numerous ICT-related activities on the NYSC NIS platform are worthy of commendation.

“I have no doubt that this ultra-modern ICT center that will be inaugurated today would be a major boost in this regard.”

He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the proposed NYSC Trust Fund Bill.

He said that the fund would make a possible turnaround in events for the scheme, especially in the improvement of training facilities.

It would also provide start-up capital to corps members to finance their businesses in line with the skills they acquire through the NYSC SAED program, among other benefits.

The founder of the scheme congratulated it on its 50th anniversary, describing it as “a golden jubilee of selfless and laudable contributions to the development of our dear country”.

Gowon appealed to Nigerians and relevant stakeholders to provide necessary support that would enable the scheme consolidate on the successes recorded in the last five decades

“I call on the respective state governments to intensify efforts in setting up and upgrading the facilities in their orientation camps towards providing a conducive environment to enhance the hitch-free training of corps members during the three-week orientation period.”

The Director-General of the scheme, Brig.-Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, explained that the role of ICT in the 21st century cannot be overemphasized.

According to him, most organizations and corporate entities have been transitioning their processes and procedures from analog to digital platforms.

This, he said, was to promote the delivery of excellent, fast, efficient, world-class services with minimal errors and less human interference.

“NYSC has no reason not to lead the way. The vision of the scheme is to become the leading light of youth organizations in Africa.

“This is premised on the fact that the youth, as the vibrant segment of the national demography, has over the years been championing the use of ICT in bringing about a more efficient society.

“Undoubtedly, the NYSC program has since become an integral part of Nigeria’s national development strategy.

“It has provided a platform for these ICT-savvy graduate youths to gain practical work experience, contribute to the development of their host communities, and promote understanding and cooperation among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic and cultural groups,” he said.

A beneficiary of SAED, Miss Angela Okplewu, said that the program has changed the course of her life.

She said that it had broadened her knowledge and given her an opportunity to learn how to produce skin care products.

She said she also got a grant from the bank, which boosted her business, and she is now self-employed.

“I have been able to add more products to what I can produce and get more equipment, and the registration of my products is already in the process, all thanks to SAED.”