₦airaland Forum

The heads of the Industrial Training Fund and Nigerian Communications Commission have been nominated for awards of excellence by UK-based media group, TheNigerian News.

According to the company, the awards will be received by ITF's DG, Sir Joseph Ari and NCC's Executive Secretary, Prof Umar Danbatta respectively at its fifth anniversary.

In a statement signed by Bridget Agada, the secretary of the award planning committee, the ITF boss willl be conferred with the Icon of Transformation while Danbatta will be recognised as the Icon of Security Innovation.

Agada said ITF has made numerous contributions in placing Nigeria on the path of steady economic growth and industrialization through human resources development.

She added that, "There's been emphasis on skills acquisition with the knowledge that it is the most sustainable solution to reducing poverty and unemployment, and the catalyst to growth arid development. ITF is now reputed for its proactiveness and farsightedness, which more than anything else accounts for its longevity and relevance.

" Nigerians can not forget the brainchild of ITF, the maiden made-in-Nigeria phones and how it has positively impacted the economy of the country".

On the part of Danbatta, the company said that the NCC boss has introduced groundbreaking reforms that has positively influenced the war against insecurity.

It noted that owing to the expertise, innovations and foresight of Danbatta, the country is enjoying a new lease of life.

The event, which will be held at the NAF Conference on December 16th, will be chaired by the Honourable Minister of Special Duties, Senator (Dr) George Akume while His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano is Father of the Day.

The National Youth Service Corps and its Director-General, Brig-Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim, His Excellencies, Ambassador Tukur Buratai, Governor Mai Mala Buni, Governor Abdullahi Sule and Governor Bala Mohammed will also be awarded.

PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF CIVIL SOCIETY COALITION’S INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES MIGRANTS AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS

The Civil Society Alliance for Transparency and Development (CSATD) is a coalition of Civil Society Organizations, with a mandate to advocate for better living conditions for the citizens by ensuring qualitative and effective delivery of public goods and services. The coalition aggregates and amplifies the voices of its members in holding public institutions accountable to the citizens who hold the highest office in our democratic system that gives birth to all institutions.

As part of our activities in furtherance of our mandate, the CSATD holds public institutions accountable by periodically assessing their performance based on management performance within the framework of their mandates and budgetary allocations.

Considering the security situation in Nigeria and the added responsibility it has placed on government in terms of emergency care through medium to long term rehabilitation and reintegration of those affected by crises, the CSATD has beamed its searchlight on the relevant agencies in the sector to assess their performance.

We independently assessed the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, wherein we looked at their mandate which gives them the longest engagement with victims of crises and disasters, being the longest care provider.

It must be said that hitherto, the Commission had received meager budgetary allocation despite the enormous responsibility it was saddled with, while staff morale was rather low.

The coming of President Buhari has however changed this trajectory for the better, with increased budgetary allocations and other reforms that has set the commission on the path to better outcomes for the victims of crises.
The CSATD and its members has for the last six months visited sites where the commission carries out its work and measured the level of work against their budgetary allocations and releases. In the coming days we shall be presenting our comprehensive report of the said assessment but this is a presentation of our preliminary findings.
It is our observation that the commission, under the leadership of Hajiya Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim, has sustained the gains made during the course of the Buhari administration. From our investigation the commission has made several giant strides, attracting government support and increased local and international strategic support, which has led to more impact on their areas of work. Though there is more to be done, the commission has shown itself to be capable and deserves to be given more powers and resources to carry out the enormous task before it.
We have found that under the current leadership the commission has vastly improved the packages being given to IDPs in Nigeria and been able to attract more local and international partnerships to support them in this task. It is also the discovery of the CSATD that the Commission has also given priority attention to issues of staff welfare, which has brought about increased motivation to exceed their job descriptions in recognition of the fact that crises management is a continuous exercise.
Today standard protocols have been established for repatriation of Nigerian refugees from neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic, while several communities have been resettled by the commission. The commission has attracted the commendation of the likes of the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR), which is on record as having put its stamp of approval on the processes of the commission in carrying out its mandate. Today Nigeria has adopted and localized the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), being one of the first countries in Africa to do so.
Our team also monitored procurement practices, which we found to be transparent and in full compliance with the subsisting procurement act and other ancillary laws of the federation. The Commission has also prioritized inter-agency collaboration, establishing seamless relations with agencies working within their space and beyond.
We call on the presidency to sustain and increase the budgetary allocations to the commission. We also call on the Presidency to continue to support the management of the commission for them to do more. We equally call on local and international partners to give more support to the commission for more impact and better outcomes for the victims of disaster and violence.

SIGNED:
BASAH MOHAMMED
NATIONAL COORDINATOR, CSATD

Senator Abu Ibrahim Didn't Organise Any Meeting of Northern Elders for Asíwájú Bola Tinubu

We have seen an untitled, unsigned and absolutely fake post circulating on Whatsapp, alleging that Senator Abu Ibrahim organised a meeting of Northern Elders for Asíwájú Bola Tinubu, where issues of his yet undeclared presidential ambition were discussed.

The viral post claimed that Tinubu at the meeting insisted on picking a Muslim from the North-West as running mate while discontenancing the votes from the South-South and South-East.

Ordinarily, Senator Abu Ibrahim would not have dignified this groundless report with a response, but for fear that some unwary may not see through the mischief intended for an ambition that is yet to be declared, the Senator would like to state as follows:
*That he didn't convene any meeting of Northern elders for Asíwájú Tinubu or for anyone for that matter.
*That no meeting of Northern elders ever took place as claimed. And as an elder in the North, he should know if there would be any such meeting.
*That he has been friends with Asíwájú Tinubu for over 30 years and knows Asíwájú Tinubu well enough to know he would not operate on the basis of religion or ethnicity should he decide to contest for the presidency.
*That Asíwájú Tinubu would not discountenance any region or group of people as the fake post seemed to present him if he decides to throw his hat in the ring.
Asíwájú is a nationalist who has built bridges across the various regions and has friends in equal measure from the South-east and South- South as well as the three geopolitical zones in the North- North-west, North-east and North-central.
*We know those behind the post. While we will refrain from naming them, we will appeal to them to at least wait for the process to begin before they begin their disingenuous campaigns of hate and calumny.
We urge our people to disregard the post for what it is: fake and unfounded.


Signed
Otunba Biodun Ajiboye
Media Director, CNNI,
For and on behalf of Senator Abu Ibrahim.

The North East Development Commission(NEDC) has been nominated for an award of excellence by UK-based media group, TheNigerian News.

In a letter addressed to its Managing Director, Mohammed Goni Alkali, the company said the NEDC will be recognised as Most Outstanding Agency for National Intervention and Recovery.

According to the company, NEDC alongside other agencies and distinguished Nigerians will be awarded at its fifth anniversary scheduled for Thursday.

" We are rewarding NEDC's efforts since 2019 in fulfilling its core mandate of reconstruction and development of the North-East. The NEDC has risen to the responsibility of receiviing and managing funds from allocation of the Federal Account, international donors for the settlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads, houses and business premises of victims of insurgency as well as tackling the menace of poverty, illiteracy level, ecological problems and any other related environmental or developmental challenges in the North-East states," TheNigerian said.

"In particular, the completion of ICT centres, construction of housing units and completion of abandoned projects across the region have attracted the attention of Nigerians beyond the North-East".

The event, which will be held at the NAF Conference, will be chaired by the Honourable Minister of Special Duties, Senator (Dr) George Akume while His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano is Father of the Day.

The National Youth Service Corps and its Director-General, Brig-Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim, His Excellencies, Ambassador Tukur Buratai, Governor Mai Mala Buni, Governor Abdullahi Sule and Governor Bala Mohammed will also be awarded.

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig-General Shuaibu Ibrahim has been nominated for an award of excellence by UK-based media group, TheNigerian News.

Ibrahim will be recognised as "Pathfinder of Youth Empowerment" at an event to mark the company's fifth anniversary.

The NYSC Scheme will also be conferred with an award as "Most Outstanding Agency for National Unity and Development".

According to a statement by the company, Brig-Gen Ibrahim was selected by its 10-man committee for equipping and empowering young Nigerians for self-reliance through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme.

" Over the years, the NYSC has pursued various measures geared towards critically engaging corps members constructively during their service year. However, under your watch, the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme has recorded massive gains and global recognition," the statement said.

"More than ever, hundreds of thousands of Nigerian youths are better equipped and empowered for self-reliance. The SAED is now reputed as Nigeria’s flagship entrepreneurial programme and the biggest in Africa".

On the choice of the NYSC for an award, the company said "we have seen the valuable contributory roles of the NYSC Scheme to national development and integration particularly in the time of national emergencies such as COVID-19 lockdown where medical doctors on the Scheme and other personnel provided numerous voluntary services".

It added that "our committee also recalls the role of its young doctors in sustaining the health sector during strikes and the immeasurable contributions of Corp members to our educational development and skills acquisition.

"It is also on record that the NYSC in recent times has given herself to boosting the country’s treasury through countless revenue-generating schemes".

The event, which will be held at the NAF Conference on December 16, will be chaired by the Honourable Minister of Special Duties, Senator (Dr) George Akume while His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano is Father of the Day.

Other eminent Nigerians to be awarded on that day include His Excellencies, Ambassador Tukur Buratai, Governor Mai Mala Buni, Governor Abdullahi Sule and Governor Bala Mohammed.

Kogi State Governor and 2023 Presidential Hopeful on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has been named Best Governor in Peace and Security for his outstanding leadership qualities and decisive handling of the security situation in the state.

Alhaji Bello is among distinguished Nigerians to be recognised at the fifth anniversary awards of UK-based media group, TheNigerian News.

According to a statement by the company, the governor has excelled in numerous aspects since taking over the helms of affair.

It highlighted the tremendous turnaround in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and youth empowerment, all attracting widespread commendation.

However, the company added that its committee were particularly impressed with the peace, serenity and security in Kogi.

"Despite its delicate nature, as the bridge between the north and south, Kogi is seemingly unaffected by the rising spate of crimes across the country," a statement signed by Ms Bridget Agada, the secretary of the planning committee noted.

"With the knowledge that the state is central to the nation’s peace and development, Governor Bello set up a template, involving all indigenes in the fight, keeping them busy with worthy jobs and making the task of securing the state everybody’s business. Other states are beginning to borrow this blueprint".

The company added that Governor Bello has also helped to midwife series of interventions in de-escalating tensed security situation across the country.

The event, scheduled to hold at the NAF Conference Centre Abuja on December 16th, will be chaired by the Honourable Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, His Excellency, Senator (Dr) George Akume while His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, is the Father of the Day.

Ten other distinguished Nigerians will be recognised on that day including His Excellencies, Ambassador Tukur Buratai, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim and Mr Mohammed Bello-Kobo, the acting MD, Nigerian Ports Authority.

Others are Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, the DG National Youth Service Corps; Mr Lanre Gbajabiamila, DG National Lottery Commission, Mr Yusuf Bichi, the DG Department of State Services, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Yakubu Pam, Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) among others.

Former Senate President, Anyim, former Army boss, Buratai, others for TheNigerian News Awards

Former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and former Chief of Army Staff, His Execelleny, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai (rtd) are among distinguished Nigerians nominated for awards by London-based group, TheNigerian News.

Senator Anyim, also a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, will be conferred with an award of excellence as "Grand Icon of Democracy".

Ambassador Buratai, meanwhile, will be recognised as the "Grand Icon of Patriotism in Africa".

The award ceremony, scheduled for NAF Conference Centre Abuja, on December 16th, is part of activities to mark the company's fifth anniversary.

According to a press statement signed by Ms Bridget Agada, secretary of the award planning committee, Senator Anyim epitomises the average hardworking Nigerian who believes in the country's peace, unity and progress.

She said the former Senate President is a symbol of democracy who is highly revered in the mould of other great Patriots like Sir Ahmadu Bello of blessed memory, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Agada further revealed that Ambassador Buratai is celebrated for his "patriotic devotion to duty which continued to manifest through the timely defeat of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria".

She added that his fearless fight against "terrorism across the African continent, initiating and domesticating numerous reforms and innovations have placed the Nigerian Army as one of the most powerful forces in Africa".

The event will be chaired by the Honourable Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator (Dr) George Akume while His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero is the Royal Father of the Day.

Ten other distinguished Nigerians will be recognised on that day including His Excellencies, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State as well as the MD/CEO of FunmiAyinke Nigeria Limited, Engr Funmi Ayinke.

others are Brig Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, the Director-General, National Youth Service Corps, Mr Yusuf Bichi, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Yakubu Pam, Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) among others.

The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC has been commended for its leadership styles in overcoming critical challenges facing the Nation. 

The scheme was particularly eulogized for its interventions in the areas of Covid-19 emergency interventions and thinking outside the box towards fighting the pandemic in the country.


Speaking at the opening ceremony of a two day public discourse on reinforcing critical institutions for National Development and sustainability in Abuja, an educationist, Professor  Sam Okpe lauded the efforts of institutions such as the NYSC and the Joint Admission snd Matriculation Board, JAMB in maintaining its relevance in the country.


Okpe said  when COVID-19 broke out, the NYSC scheme was suspended due to restrictions on movement and fear of the health risks to corps members. 


He said shortly after the lifting of the ban on restrictions, the scheme swooped into action to see ways of assisting the government to curtail the spread of the virus



He said this prompted the NYSC leadership to approach the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (now the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19) to put strategies in place for the resumption of their activities. 


Okpe said first on the agenda of the committee set up which comprised mostly of NYSC and NCDC staff was to “look at strategies that will ensure the safety of corps members while  in camp to ensure that they keep building trust of the entire country, especially their guardians.”


"The team carried out a readiness and needs assessment, using a checklist, in all 37 camps in the country to ensure they were prepared to host corps members.

" As some of the camps were used as temporary isolation centres, it was important to ensure they were fit for the purpose of hosting orientation exercises. Once completed, they provided a checklist of things the camps must put in place before they could reopen"he said 



Okpe said working with existing response infrastructure set up by the NCDC helped the process. 



"The Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) working with state epidemiologists and the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS) were leveraged to monitor and report activities of public health importance in the camps.



"They also divided the graduates into streams to ensure no more than 800 were mobilised to be in camps at once. This is in contrast to the usual 10,000 to 20,000 before the pandemic. To further control the crowd, they were also assigned specific days to report to camp"he said


He also added that technology played a key role in managing the process. 



"Before accessing and printing their call up letters, the intending corps members were required to read NYSC guidelines developed by the NCDC and then acknowledge their willingness to adhere to them and other infection, prevention and control (IPC) guidelines, including being tested for COVID-19, before being admitted to the camps. After which they visited the SORMAS page to provide their travel history, medical history and now, their COVID-19 vaccination status. A unique code was then generated which they printed and presented at the gate, along with their call up letters.



Before being accepted into the camp, they were screened for COVID-19 using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT). Upon receiving a negative test result, corps members were able to proceed with registration while the surveillance team conducted a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test to confirm positive cases.



A social commentator, Austin Maho who also spoke at the session eulogized the role of the NYSC in leading the campaign against youth unemployment in the country.

By Thomas Uzah

I read the piece written by Prof Anthony Kila titled reform or disband the NYSC. It is a fascinating piece, even though he wrote like he wasn't sure of himself at the initial stages. I must add that Prof Kila succeeded in expressing fears rather than addressing the issues he sought to propagate when he conceived the idea about writing on the NYSC.
His emphasis was on the safety of corp members. He was also of the opinion that the NYSC had not evolved over the years and still relied on the methodology set out when it was established in 1973. That was strange to me to the extent that I wondered if he thought it was still the same regime and retinue of events for close to 50 years.
Prof Kila argued that by 2023 when a new government will come into power, and the NYSC will be 50 years old, many of those billed to serve will probably be young adults born in 2000. He stated thus: “We are talking generation Z here. The idea of governing Gen Z with rules and schemes invented in 1973 is simply ridiculous and destined to fail.”
The above statement, in my opinion, was misplaced. He exhibited an apparent lack of understanding of the issues at stake regarding the operations of the NYSC in recent times. Maybe he thought nothing had changed in the NYSC since it was created 50 years ago. The question I would ask is this? Is it possible that such would happen in this age and time?
Could it be that Prof Kila thinks that the NYSC as a scheme has refused to evolve and adapt to the changes in the country over the years? If that is indeed his position, then I would say something is fundamentally wrong because he attempted to paint a picture of the NYSC as that organization that has remained the same since inception.
Let me digress; the only constant in life is change. This much Prof Kila should know as a scholar. For him to disregard, this important phenomenon raises a red flag. And why the content of his piece should be recalled for further research at the risk of misleading unsuspecting members of the general public.
I do not hold a brief for the NYSC, but I can sufficiently say my NYSC experience 15 years ago is not the same as that of my niece two years ago. Let me give a simple example. During my NYSC experience 15 years ago, the monthly allowance was N9,800. But today, it is N33 000. This simple analogy helps us understand that the NYSC has continually evolved over the years with innovations that have transformed the scheme from what it used to be.
In those days, call up for participation in the NYSC was done through schools, where one is expected to collect call up letters manually. But today, everything is done online. Is Prof Kila aware of this?
Is Prof Kila also aware that there was a posting policy that restricted the posting of corp members to critical areas at some point? Let me help; in 2012, the federal government approved a new posting policy for the NYSC to four critical areas; rural health, education, infrastructure and agriculture. Accordingly, the new posting policy framework was to enhance equitable distribution of corps manpower to curtail underutilization and re-energize the objective of the scheme as envisioned by its founding fathers. I would advise Prof Kila to research those mentioned above and return to his readers on his findings.
Also, in March 2012, the NYSC leadership introduced Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship (SAED) Programmes into the NYSC orientation course content. The scheme's goals include sensitization and mobilization of young graduates for skill acquisition annually and facilitation of training and mentoring of young graduates in skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development of self-reliance annually. Others include the promotion of public-private partnership for entrepreneurship development and self-reliance among Nigerian youths and attachment of corps members to appropriate organizations for skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development.
I won't expatiate on the above listed. After all, I am dealing with a Professor because I believe the Professor would undertake further research. It is very common with scholars, and this is no exception. I stand to be corrected.
Lest I forgot, the Prof also stated that the concept of the NYSC prioritizes identity over functionality. He said," It is a wrong and lazy way of thinking. Nigerians do not mistrust themselves because they do not know each other. Nigerians mistrust themselves because those in power fail to provide enough services and opportunities for all but insist on rationing insufficient services and opportunities through nepotism, tribalism and other forms of favouritism at the detriment of merit.”
I am afraid I cannot agree as a first. Secondly, I don't know the area of core competence of Prof Anthony Kila. However, I think this area is not his turf, and as such, he should be careful not to mislead and misinform. The concept behind the establishment of the NYSC has never been that of identity, but rather national reintegration as fallout from the wounds of the civil war. This fact must be stated clearly.
Talking about functionality, there can’t be a functional society in an atmosphere of strife. The civil war opened an array of issues. The NYSC was established with a “view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity". Now, this is functionality.
The contributions of corps members in the socio-economic development of Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. Prof Kila must come to terms with this reality and desist from commenting on issues he is not knowledgeable about. I expect him to act in good conscience at all times. But if it is for pecuniary gains, then that is another topic for discussion.

Uzah PhD is head of department, Mass Communication, Kwararafa University Wukari.

In a recent press statement by one Isah Jabbi who claimed to be speaking on behalf of a faceless concerned youth of APC in Sokoto state, where he claimed to personally recognised one, Mainasara as the Sokoto APC Chairman.



It is on record, that Isah Sadiq Achida was unanimously elected as the chairman of Sokoto APC, under a consensus agreement, where all the delegates from the 23 Local Government converged at the state party office, screened and all signified in one voice on the leadership of the State APC executives. The process which, was observed, monitored by INEC officials, security agencies and conducted by the Chairman of Congress committee sent from the APC National Headquarter.



You have taken a step too far and you should learn to identify your personal grudges and address them in a rightful channel. He has instead chosen to attach it to a non-existing party crisis.



His Excellency, Sen. Aliyu M. Wamakko is a father, mentor, benefactor and leader who deserves respect from the character or any of their associate. Therefore his leadership and mentorship should not be attacked by any person having acknowledged his sustained support to you and your associate.



Sequel to this, i wish to disassociate myself and other genuine youth stakeholders, of Sokoto state, a card carrying APC members, stakeholders in national struggle from the self-acclaimed press release.



Considering the peaceful nature and contributions, of our great party the APC, a person of your intellectual/ intelligence should not indulge in doing this obnoxious act which contradicts your social orientation. Therefore i wish to inform you formally that, you should find a forum of reconciling the damage you have done to your reputable personality by crossing the boundaries of long lasting relationship of my humble self, our Father the leader of our grate party, the youths forum which we all represent and the Students Unionship which we are all leaders with followers, i deemed is unethical and unprofessional of you attacking the personality of our great party the APC. This is devastating in the Fora of our struggle as youths.

We remain committed to the authentic leadership of the party, and undoubtedly loyal to our leader, distinguished senator Wammako.

No amount of cheap blackmail can change this fact.





Signed:



SULEIMAN MAHMUD T.

By Katurak Yashim

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, says the National  Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is here to stay as its contributions to national development are indisputable.

Dare spoke in Abuja on Saturday night at the premiere of an advocacy movie produced by the NYSC entitled “A Call to Service”.

The movie was produced to increase appreciation for the scheme’s relevance in promoting patriotism, national unity, peace and cohesion.

Some of the movie cast included Nollywood actors such as Pete Edochie, Toyin Abraham, Ali Nuhu, Belinda Effah, Imeh Bishop also known as “Okon Lagos”, and comedian Anita Asuoha also referred to as “Real Warripikin”.

The minister applauded the timely release of the movie as the relevance of the scheme has been under public scrutiny and debate in recent time.

“The timing of this movie could not have been better after weeks and months of debates about whether the NYSC is relevant or not and whether the scheme should be scrapped or should continue.

“The answer to the critics, to the anti-NYSC is in the premiere of this movie. This movie needs to travel and hit every viewing platform across this country and in the diaspora; it must go viral.

“The message must go out strong and clear, that the NYSC has come to stay. The scheme is more relevant now than it has ever been before,” the minister said.

Dare said that the release of the movie would assist the ministry with its plans in ensuring that the NYSC Trust Fund is created.

According to him, I believe that before the end of the first quarter of next year when we have done all that is necessary, I will be able to present a memo to the (Federal Executive) Council for the establishment of an NYSC Trust Fund.

Gen. Yakubu Gowon, former Head of State and initiator of the NYSC, urged the legislative and executive arms of the Federal Government to take the necessary steps towards establishing the NYSC Trust Fund.

Gowon, who was represented by Mr Yusuf Nalado, Member, NYSC Governing Board, said that the gesture would ensure the sustenance of the scheme and the future of the Nigerian youth.

Gowon called on Nigerians to continue to support the scheme to sustain the achievements of its mandate.

Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, the NYSC Director-General, said that the scheme produced the movie to drive the relevance of the scheme and also to provide a platform for corps members to develop their potential.

Ibrahim said that the movie also aimed to educate local and foreign-trained graduates that national service is mandatory and failure to comply will attract legal consequences.

“You are all aware that NYSC has for long become a household name in Nigeria owing to its invaluable contributions to national unity and development.

“In particular, its role in the training and mentoring of the youth in preparation for their future leadership responsibilities have been appreciated by all and sundry.

“The movie we are unveiling today is part of the innovative approaches of the present management to engendering a greater appreciation of the relevance of the scheme.

“It is an advocacy and sensitisation tool that is also expected to influence a greater commitment of stakeholders to their roles and responsibilities as spelt out in the NYSC Act Cap N84 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and the NYSC Bye-Laws.

According to Ibrahim, the movie is also produced to encourage local and foreign-trained Nigerian graduates that are eligible for national service to make themselves available upon graduation.

He said that this would prevent the graduates from being found guilty of absenteeism, absconding, or certificate forgery.

The director-general said that the movie was produced under the schemes movie production platform “NYSCwood” which was established to sensitise the public on relevant issues.

“Some of the actors in the movie were serving corps members at the time of its production. Indeed, the film was produced by a corps member, JairusPaul Osazuwa.

“This is in line with our policy of providing opportunities for corps members to develop their potential. It is in this regard that we established the NYSC movie production platform, which we christened NYSCwood.

“Already, we have produced several short films aimed at sensitising the public on issues such as elections, safe blood donation, and campaign against open defecation.

“Apart from deploying our movies as instruments of entertainment and education, the NYSCwood will serve as a training platform for corps members who will be interested in pursuing a career as professional movie actors while also generating revenue for the scheme,” Ibrahim said.

He said that the scheme had also signed a partnership agreement with the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN) to further provide a platform for corps members to develop and expand their creativity. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
KRY/KOK
========

By Steven Omoha

Surprisingly, there are sustained and conscious attempts by some political players to deliberately splotch a laudable scheme like the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for the wrong reasons. A latest recruit into the agenda, Anthony Kila, a Professor of Strategy and Development and, Director at Center for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS), Lagos, authored a piece, captioned, “Let Us Reform or Disband NYSC.” But finished weakly and poorly.
The pedagogies interrogated and espoused by the writer of the piece can accurately be described as contradictory. While he flaunts dual contrastive positions on same issue- to reform or disband the NYSC, a thorough perusal of the write-up supports none concretely. Probably, he is a writer in conflict with his ideas. Unwittingly, the writer betrayed his concealed motives of a predetermined mindset, severed from conviction, as reflective in an outright display of feeble indecision on either sustaining the existence of NYSC or disbanding it.
In any case, the Author has a good sense of humour. He is not sure of the public acceptability of his arguments. Nigerians have heard enough of such junkyard commentaries and campaigns in recent times. Even the national parliament also mulled with the idea. But it shuddered no one and rather, Nigerians moved against scrapping of the scheme. That’s the only assurance to Kila even today. The writer merely duplicated and re-echoed it today. But the conspiratorial gang-ups against the existence of NYSC, citing insecurity and other mundane issues have failed and will continue to fail strikingly.
The author’s first doubtful, but generous misconception is the declaration that “The most obvious reason to reform or disband the NYSC is that of safety, but that is a mere (sic) but crucial topical issue. The security situation in the country has muffled the sense of adventure in potential corps members and transformed the feel and aroma of NYSC into anxiety.” How, Mr. Professor? And he sounded with much infantile disposition. He backed his assertion with alien idea of parents and guardians praying and fasting for their children or relations not to be posted to volatile areas.
It is disappointing to discern the incapacity of the writer to convince Nigerians that it is the serving corps members who are afraid of “adventurous” exploits during the service years because of insecurity in their localities. But, benignly (according to the writer), it is the parents who fast and pray at their behest? Existence itself anywhere in the world is an adventure. Humanity exists in predestinies; death is an unwelcome visitor, but knocks on anyone’s door, anywhere. That anyone is alive anywhere today is not because of hired sentinels to protect him, or his carefulness or saintliness, but by God’s special mercies.
And if the writer himself bemoans widespread insecurity in the country as confessed, would these young Nigerians be safer or unassailable from violence in their ancestral abodes? Are other human beings not existing in the same communities, baptized by Kila as unsecured? It sounds sufficiently hollow!
Unfortunately, a Professor of Strategy and Development has wittingly belittled the idea of inter-human relationships, cultural adaptation and the domestication of young Nigerians among themselves in other parts of the country. He pretended not to know that it is a natural antidote to peace and propellers of development or harmonious co-existence.
The Author mildly applauded the idea; but frowned at what he prefers to qualify as Government’s imposition of such concepts on its people, whilst canvassing for its replacement with tourism. May be, Kila has no idea of the expensiveness of tourism in Nigeria or elsewhere. For many Nigerians, it is an opportunity which comes once in a lifetime. Therefore, he unreasonably queried; “This seems laudable but after a closer look, a question pops up: why is it the business of the government to force young Nigerians to discover other parts of Nigeria? “
Globally, there is no democracy where citizens are granted absolute freedom and, every nation has its own peculiarities. Other democratic nations too have made certain programs mandatory for all its citizens. So, it is wrong to suggest that “Let us make NYSC optional and specialized.” Nigeria cannot jump blindly into Generation “Z” overnight. It’s a gradual process. If the Government of Nigeria decides to impose cultural mix-ups and platforms of enhancing greater national unity among young Nigerians, it should not constitute a nightmare, based on a flimsy excuse.
It is narrow perception to think corps members’ utility value is only found in closing the deficiency of teachers in public schools. This reasoning is logically defective. What about other professionals like Medical Doctors, health specialists, Architects, Engineers, Lawyers etc, who feel the lacuna in various communities in these sensitive and impactful critical areas? Is Kila saying the valuable services they render should be nullified because the teaching profession alone is abused? And among corps members are also education graduates and all of them contribute to nation-building in very dire situations.
And the craziest standpoint is the submission that “The easiest thing to do is to scrap the scheme.” NYSC cannot be scrapped on the simplistic perceptions of someone’s phobia of insecurity, or its presumed out-modelled structure or because the teaching profession is reportedly abused. The scheme is by far, more valuable and impressively rewarding to the country and the participants. It’s now quite clear, the writer is living in the past, or simply, uninterested in the multiple reforms, the NYSC is currently enjoying under the Buhari Presidency.
Perhaps, the academic don is too busy with other schedules to notice the ongoing reforms and repositioning of the NYSC under the current leadership of Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim.
The writer cannot in all fairness claim that serving corps members face such widespread daunting security challenges in their places of Primary Assignment (PA) because the NYSC Director-General and his team are not robots. Corps members are not posted to real or potential volatile areas. This is in addition to the extra security arrangements for them from the camps to the places they are posted.
NYSC is now figured in fresh realms of contributions to national productivity under Gen. Ibrahim. Its novel in the history of the scheme to have corps members who are actively engaged into large scale and recognizable domestic production of Agricultural produce in Nigeria in response to President Muhammadu Buhari’s policy on food production. Existing NYSC farms and fresh farm plantations have sprouted throughout Nigeria.
NYSC rice cultivation alone has scaled over 60,000 hectares in year 2021. And modalities for expansion of same have been completed. The rice produce is also processed in NYSC Rice Mills and packaged for public consumption. NYSC bottled water, bread and flour factories have been established and the scheme is aggressively fighting for its financial independence through investments. For the first time, NYSC has contributed slightly over a billion naira into the federation account, sourced from proceeds of its investments in 2020 and 2021.
The Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneur Development Program (SAED) has become the hub of skills empowerment of serving corps members. Many have ended up becoming self-reliant by deploying the SAED talents to investments in post service years. Through soft loans, out-going corps members source from the financial institutions partnering with the NYSC, these young Nigerians have invested in various successful business ventures and have also employed other unemployed youths in different parts of the country. Is this the scheme Prof. Kila and his cohorts want scrapped or are these not reforms worthy of their attention?
And Gen. Ibrahim plans a bigger picture of the financial empowerment of corps members in the post service year. Sensitization campaigns have reached the peak for the establishment of an NYSC Trust Fund, where a larger percentage of passing out corps members would access loans to start life independently. Nigerians cannot sacrifice these benefits on the egoistic excitement of someone lured into the fancies of Generation “Z” or digital age. Nigeria must evolve its home grown solutions to solve its peculiar problems and the NYSC, under Gen. Ibrahim offers a durable plank today as formidable stakeholder in the Nigerian project.


Omoha wrote this piece from Hilltop Estate, Abeokuta.

By Philip Agbese



Not every Nigerian is gifted with the capacity to appreciate developments in their milieu. But certainly, there is tremendous improvements in the country’s domestic food production fortunes in the last few years, evident in the data of the overall contribution of the agricultural sector in the growth of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The fixation not to recognize efforts of government has also blindfolded a few to the reality of FGN’s triumphs in food production, despite accidental hurdles in government’s efforts to ensure massive local food production and security; job creation; earning and conservation of scarce foreign reserves. However, any imagined misgivings do not displace the real progression.

When President Muhammadu Buhari became Nigeria’s democratic leader in 2015, he noticed an extremely recessed economy, mainly railroaded by the global drastic drop in the prices of crude oil in the international market. Mr. President loudly frowned at the trend amid daunting challenges of development. He preached diversification of the Nigerian economy as one of his immediate priorities through agriculture *that champions the informal sector of our economy* by stimulating farmers into massive local food production. It became the icing of the cake for Dr. Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria.

Food security is a global slogan, and like the national anthem of every country. Each nation strives to be self-sustaining and self-sufficient on access to food. And Nigeria is a blessed country with arable and fertile land in all parts of the nation. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s agricultural resources have largely remained untapped or under-utilized in the past and the resort to importation of staple food commodities damagingly bruised the economy.

So, in the last few years, under the administration of President Buhari, appreciable efforts, energy and funds have been invested to boost agricultural production. Nigeria’s CBN Governor, Dr. Emefiele foresighted the danger far ahead having studied the unpromising indices of the economy and gave his whole heart to the task.

Emefiele sighted a bleak future with the clarity of Nostradamus, popularly referred to as “the man who saw tomorrow,” and knew, urgent steps had to be taken to avert an impending catastrophe in food availability. Therefore, Emefiele, Nigeria Nostradamus in disguise used the agric sector from to twice pull out the country recessions in quick succession.

The CBN has a pantheon of functions which are designed to breed a stable and prosperous economy for Nigeria. Emefiele saw Nigeria’s dark tomorrow and averted it by not only channeling energies on CBN’s price control, monetary, and financial system stability *also* by migrating full scale into a financial catalyst in the agricultural sector of the economy.

Today, Nigeria has met a significant percentage of its local agricultural production/consumption needs in several staple crops around the country. The CBN boss nay Nigeria has emerged victorious in spite of tough interruptions to farming enterprises and agric produce transportation, including the global Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) multiple lockdowns; the humongous degeneration of internal security; and natural disasters such as floods and fire outbreaks.

Often expectedly, Nigerians complain of rising costs of food items in the open market. But it takes only an impartial mind to understand the salient benefits. Those with this mindset hardly appreciates that it would have been worse had President Buhari from the onset failed to take aggressive steps in the revitalization of agriculture in the country.

There is abundant evidence that during the COVID-19 lockdown, the federal government palliatives of food supplies to all Nigerians were sourced locally from national food reserves. And unlike before, Nigeria has met 80% of its domestic rice consumption through local production; much like in other crops.

So far, the CBN has disbursed over N1.8 trillion intervention funds under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), benefitted by different agricultural schemes as loans to stakeholders in a dozen value chains by December 31, 2020.

So, in spite of these unforeseen interruptions, Nigeria targeted its National Food Reserve (NFR) to reach 219, 900 metric tonnes by end of 2020. That limit has been exceeded. As early as 2016, as disclosed by the then Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammed Nanono, Nigeria had over 109,657 metric tonnes. Over the years, the nation has experienced an impressive progression in its agricultural funding and farmers engagements on a large scale.

Consequently, the Buhari Presidency has taken a bold step into agricultural revolution, through the CBN, which is still launching series of agricultural intervention schemes. But the Buhari Presidency’s focal action was the Anchor Borrower’s Programme (ABP), which he personally launched in Birnin-Kebbi, in Kebbi state.

Over the years, the ABP has commendably executed its mandate of providing farm inputs in kind and cash to Small Holder Farmers (SHFs) to boost production of specified commodities, stabilize inputs supply to agro- processors and correction of Nigeria’s negative balance of payments on food importation. SHFs harvests are supplied to the Agro-processor (Anchor) who in turn, pays the cash equivalent to the farmer’s account. The CBN initially disbursed over N300 billion to over 3.1 million SHFs in 21 different commodities, with a cumulative hectarage cultivation of over 3.8 million farmlands in areas like rice, wheat, maize, cotton, cassava, poultry, soybeans, groundnuts and fish among others.

By end of 2020, the CBN’s funded ABP’s rice farmers operating under the auspices of Rice Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in five years, had a total of 2,923,937 farmers engaged in farming 3,647,643 hectares of 21 commodities, anchored by 23 Financial Institutions in all the 36 states and Abuja. Through these cumulative efforts, the yields, the agricultural sector has contributed to GDP rise to 22.35 percent in Q1’21, up from 19.79 percent in 2020 according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

And encouragingly, the agric sector alone impacted real economic growth on Nigeria by 2.2 percent in 2020, when the entire country recorded only 1.92 percent appreciation in growth.

On the continental food production map, Nigeria now ranks as the largest producer of rice in Africa, boasting of over 9 million metric tonnes. And on global ranking, Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava with 59.4 million metric tonnes and yam with 47.9 metric tonnes annually, while it has ranked 14th in maize production with 10.42 million metric tonnes; and 4th in palm oil with 7.7 million tonnes. Crops like Cassava, groundnuts, tomatoes, and sorghum; and the animal husbandry like Cattle beef, dairy and fish productions are recording yearly growth, consequently reducing Nigeria’s national agricultural import bill significantly, unlike previously, when it rather added pressure on FOREX.

The FGN’s initiatives on boasting domestic agricultural production are sustained in 2021. President Buhari has also approved the disbursement of N600 billion loan facility to 2.4 million farmers across the federation. Incumbent Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr .Mohammed Abubakar broke the cheering news at the commemoration of the 2021 World Food Day during the National Agricultural Show/Exhibition organized by the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria, NAFN, along Abuja-Keffi Expressway, Nasarawa State.

The N600 billion loan facility packaged through the Agro-Processing Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support project (APPEALS), is part of the relentless efforts and support to farmers for Nigeria’s food security.

Additionally, in July 2020, President Buhari launched the “Agriculture for Food and Job Plan (AFJP), a component of Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP) targeted to cushion the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on farmers. About five to 10 million jobs have been targeted to be created in the agricultural sector under this scheme and over 1. 138.000 million farmers have been assisted in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic across the nation and the FCT.

The overall significance of CBN’s interventions in the agricultural sector these past five years under the Buhari Presidency is summed up by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture and Chairman, Board of Trustee of the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, in these frantic words; “As Chairman Senate Committee on Agriculture, and other Senators can confirm that the President has carved a niche for himself for formulating policies and programmes towards development and food security in the country.”

Therefore, through Dr. Godwin Emefiele’s focused, consistent and transparent management of intervention funds and schemes in the agricultural sector, President Buhari’s dream of diversifying Nigeria’s economy by revolutionizing domestic food production as an alternative to crude oil has greatly helped the economy of the country.

Some Nigerians may not grasp the benefits of today’s investment in the agric sector immediately. But without this foresight and the proactive steps, a Nigeria importing food during the Covid-19 lockdown would have been calamitous. Indeed, Emefiele is a man who saw tomorrow and averted imminent food crisis. #.

Agbese is a pro-Nigeria activist based in the United Kingdom.

The UNESCO Centre for Excellence (UNESCO-CE) has lauded the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) for standing up against fake and sub-standard academic certificates from tertiary institutions within and outside Nigeria.

The Centre said the NYSC has rapidly wiped out unqualified Nigerians from the exercise through its rigorous process and vigilant staff members.

Recall that the Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, had vowed not to succumb to pressure to compromise its mobilisation process.

Speaking recently when he hosted the Registrar/CEO of Health Records Officials Registration Board of Nigeria, Alhaji Babagana Mustapha, the DG said “the NYSC would not relent to do the needful in line with the NYSC Act".

He also pledged that "we will continue to prosecute fake graduates who show up for service . Anyone caught with fake certificates during registration would be prosecuted as enshrined in the NYSC Act. I want to assure you that we will move our collaboration to the next level and will continue to postgraduates of Health Information Management to medical facilities.”

Commending the DG, Dr Moses Gabriel, Regional Director of the Centre, in a statement on Tuesday, said the fight against fake and sub-standard educational certificates has yielded dividends.

Gabriel, therefore, charged the DG and NYSC management to sustain the momentum as this will ultimately improve the quality of Nigerian graduates, earning them global acceptance.

The Centre, however, advised the National University Commission and other relevant bodies in the country to emulate the NYSC in this regard and sustain the fight towards riding the country of fake certificates.

As part of activities lined up for the ongoing 2021 Batch ‘C’ stream II Orientation exercise, the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim has visited the NYSC Camp in Lagos where he met with the prospective Corps members.
The Director-General, who addressed Corps members posted to Lagos state enjoined them to be good ambassadors of their respective families, institutions and shun all acts that are capable of tarnishing the image of the NYSC.
He also advised the Corps members to take advantage of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Programme of the Scheme by learning entrepreneurial skills in order to become employers of labor.
General Ibrahim also commended the Corps members for obeying the clarion call and assured them that the NYSC has always been responsive to the welfare needs of its Corps members while wishing them a memorable service year experience. Earlier in the day, the Director-General interacted with all the prospective Corps members and staff nationwide, through a virtual address where he dispelled misconception about the COVID-19 vaccine and advised the Corps members to ensure they were fully vaccinated, reminding them that with the policy of the Federal Government making the vaccine compulsory for Civil Servants, effective 1st December 2021, Corps members, who form part of the Civil Service will equally have to comply with the directive.

Its two years since the constitution of the Board and management of the North East Development Commission, (NEDC). Pleasantly amazing, people of the Northeast region ravaged, devastated and ruined by over 12 years of Boko Haram insurgency have cause to again brighten their faces with smiles.

As the agency of the FGN mandated to lead the task of the socio-economic recovery of states in Northeast Nigeria, afflicted by perennial terrorism and its concomitant destructions and dislocations of normal life, it has proved its mettle of capability sufficiently, despite sickening challenges.

Thus, empowered by the FGN and other international intervention agencies, the Alhaji Mohammed Goni Alkali-led NEDC management embarked on this assignment with every seriousness and vigour , under the broad program of Rapid Response Intervention (RRI). Candidly, the NEDC management has crossed the proverbial ribicon registering its conspicuously resounding presence in the region in the process of restoring the lost socio-economic prosperity and glories of the people.

Therefore, early after it’s inauguration, the NEDC management launched an ambitious agenda tagged, North-East Stabilization and Development Masterplan Project (NESDMP). And 224 projects in sensitive sectors, covering the 112 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the six states of the Northeast region were enunciated for Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, and Taraba states.

In the Information and Communication Technology (ICT), the NEDC has spearheaded an exemplary ICT revolution in all the six states of the region. So far, by Year 2021, the NEDC trained and graduated 2,400 youths in ICT skills acquisition, spanning two batches across the Northeast region’s six states. The trainees were empowered upon graduation with starter packs to begin a life of independency. The region is bristling with an appreciable population of youths, who are ICT compliant.

The State Governor of Bauchi, Alhaji Bala Mohammed and his Adamawa state counterpart, Alhaji Umaru Fintiri have glowingly applauded the NEDC on projects execution in their states, specially, the training in ICT, which have kept them off the streets and away from recruitments into terrorists sects.

The agricultural sector has also been energized and boosted by the NEDC in the six targeted states. The commission has implemented various interventions programs under this sector commencing with sponsored training of select youths on farming and agricultural mechanization techniques, innovations, reactivation of Farm Service Centers and establishment of new ones which are handed over to farmers in the region to checkmate the incident of food shortage occasioned by insurgency.

This is in addition to the commission’s supply of agricultural machineries and inputs to encourage farming endeavors. Each state of the region has felt the commission’s intervention in agriculture, evidenced in greenish farm plantations dotting the region.

In the age of insurgency, the Northeast region faced challenges of shelter, as insurgents destroyed residential houses and forced millions of people into IDPs camps. A region already suffering from shortage of houses, the destructions to existing houses and commercial premises dealt a heavy blow on the natives and compounded the housing challenges in the region. Before insurgency, there were estimated stock of about four million houses in the region, but terrorism destroyed over 500,000 out of this quantum. Borno state, the hub of terrorism was the hardest hit by the satanic fury of insurgents.

However, the NEDC, through the presidential order immediately intervened to salvage the pathetic situation. It launched the first batch of 1,000 units of houses from the envisaged 10,000 housing units for in the region in Borno state. These first 1,000 Houses sited at Ngowom Village, Mafa LGA of the state have been completed, commissioned and handed over to Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno state for onward allocation to returnee IDPs.

Meanwhile, the NEDC has performed the foundation laying ceremony of 500 units of similar housing projects, each in Yobe, Bauchi, Adamawa and Gombe and work has commenced aggressively on the sites, with modalities being worked out to launch same in Taraba state.



Boko Haram’s ferocious assault on education and its facilities was appalling, as admitted by security analysts. Insurgents attacked schools, razed structures to ashes, slaughtered or kidnapped staff and students. Both primary and secondary schools were massively affected by the insurgents’ onslaughts. It threw an estimated over 600,000 children of school age out of school and barred another over 1 million of them from attempting to acquire western education. NEDC has massively constructed, rehabilitated and reconstructed many destroyed schools spanning the region.

The glory of education is gradually being restored in the region.It has constructed mega schools, provided classroom blocks in some cases in primary and secondary schools in the Northeast. It has also funded soft-support to teachers’ training, curriculum upgrades and teaching materials. The commission is either constructing three Composite Mega Schools or upgrading existing ones in each state of the region, and in every senatorial district.

And through the Education Endowment Fund launched by the NEDC has expended N6 billion on annual scholarships to indigent students, spread across the region. It has placed hundreds of students under annual scholarships, in diverse disciplines’ stretching from first to doctoral degrees.



The NEDC has also registered strong presence in food and other relief materials supplies to displaced victims of insurgency since it commenced operations. The United Nation Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Ambassador Edward Kallon once expressed worries over the food insecurity conditions prevalent in the Northeast. The NEDC promptly responded by flagging off food and non-food items distribution at various IDPs camps to lessen the plight of the victims.

In Bauchi state for instance, NEDC distributed hundreds of bags of rice, gallons of vegetable oil, bags of sugar, cartons of spaghetti and macaroni. The commission also donated non-food items like blankets, mats and mosquito nets. And it replicated the gesture everywhere IDPs were located in the Northeast.







The health sector is another area, the NEDC management has significantly impacted on the lives of the people of the Northeast. During the outbreak of COVID-19, it donated and equipped infectious diseases laboratory for the testing of the coronavirus and other diseases in Yobe, Bauchi, Taraba States, Adamawa and Gombe states . These facilities also serviced members of the public in these locations.

Additionally, NEDC has constructed and commissioned Primary Health Care (PHC) center in Nafada, renovated existing PHCs at Gadi, Shaganawo, Tashan Kalgo, Shongom and upgraded one of the PHC to a Cottage hospital. NEDC has also constructed two first class Burns Centres in Yola and Maiduguri respectively to carter for victims of injuries sustained from bomb explosions. It also sponsored the training of some natives on the techniques of detonating bombs and landmines.

The commission has spared no aspect necessary in the rebuilding of collapsed infrastructures, particularly roads and bridges. Today, the Northeast is gradually being reconnected by the reconstruction of the roads and bridges damaged by insurgents. In Adamawa state, the Commission has commissioned the reconstructed three critical bridges in Kudzum, Dilechim and Wurro Ngayandi in Michika and Madagali LGAS of the state, which severed Adamawa from Borno state. Likewise, the roads, Alkaleri – Futuk, in Alkaleri LGA and Alkaleri -Kirfi- to Gombe Abba road in Kirfi LGA of Bauchi state, destroyed since 2014 and so forth.

The detailed interventions of the NEDC in rebuilding damaged critical infrastructures in the Northeast or victims support cannot be comprehensively captured in a single piece, including the logistics support to security formations. But so far, so good, the NEDC management has lived up to its mandate of bringing instant succour to distressed people of the region, as it looks forward to 2022 with more projects execution. #

By Toby Prince

Unpretentiously, commitment and hard work in public service pays handsomely. Feasts of garlards brighten up your day from unexpected quarters. It confers on the recipient, more sense of responsibility and the patriotic feeling of self fulfilment to really hear resonations of eulogies vibrate everywhere.

The honouree is usually excited because humanity has found a breather through him and society covertly and overtly appreciates his sacrifices. There is nothing more profoundly enduring like contributing to the elevation and development of one's country. Nation- building is a task for everyone, and obligatory to perform in everyone's small space.

This is the proud and enviably recognized posture of the Director General, National Youth Service Corps ( DG- NYSC), Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim. Sentiments apart, Gen. Ibrahim is a loveable personality, not only by his innately gifted bundle of talents, but his rare capacity to utilize it for public benefits of mankind.

Someone once described Gen. Ibrahim as a soldier of the finest breed, an intellectual/ academic don, classic administrator, innovator, reformer, goalgetter and an amazing pacesetter. Nigerians have attestably encountered Gen. Ibrahim in these neons in the various military establishments where he has served. Now, as DG- NYSC, Gen. Ibrahim has marketed himself in spellbinding excellence on the job.

Therefore, a few days back, at an event, his alma mater, the University of Jos (UNIJOS) Alumni Association feted this crack military officer, with an award of excellence in Abuja. The association accurately assessed and endorsed the decision in recognition of Ibrahim's tremendous achievements as the 18th DG- NYSC in barely two years on the saddle.

The plethora of ecomia on the NYSC boss yawned loudly with the exceptionally positive feats and accomplishments of Gen. Ibrahim as head of the scheme. It is palpable that his choice for the award was not a mistake.


Of grippling relevance, the Chairman, Unijos Alumni, Abuja Chapter, Mr. Joseph Chukwu uttered something unique about the persona of Gen. Ibrahim as the alumni association mulled with the idea of an award to him, a man of solid credentials and unbeatable records of performance anywhere. Chukwu exclaimed to the audience that Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim’s name came topmost and got thundering ovations when he was nominated for the award.

Its difficult for Nigerians in any congregation to collectively agree and endorse anyone for honor without some protest voices. But Ibrahim broke the jinx in an association comprising professionals of different ilk, ideological persuasions and creeds. This general acceptability in itself is the first big plus and loud testimony of his credible performance in public service.

Did the University of Jos (UNIJOS) Alumni Association actually make a mistake by conferring on Gen. Ibrahim the prestigious award of excellence and a good ambassador of the varsity? Has Ibrahim really lived up to public expectations in his assignment as NYSC boss by repositioning the scheme to the status of a focal catalyst in the overall quest of Nigeria's national development?

The answers are handy from an independent inquest of Gen. Ibrahim's leadership of the NYSC scheme. Its needless to trumpet that Gen. Ibrahim met an NYSC scheme which was grossly underutilised, with potentials of serving corps members largely unexplored!

But he dexteriously turned around the fortunes of the scheme and changed dormant narratives to now a vibrant and beneficial scheme for serving corps members and their post - service years. Even public perception of the scheme has positively changed. Gen. Ibrahim has also excitingly laid the path of achieving finanacial independence for the scheme which will assume full effect in the nearest future. He is already partially successful in this regard.

Therefore, Ibrahim has upgraded the existing NYSC's Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneural Development programme ( SAED) and ensured the one month training in different vocations impact on the quest for more knowledge on all corps members. Some of them actually begin to utilize such skills in their places of Primary Assignment ( PA).

And thinking out of the box, Gen. Ibrahim has gone ahead to partner with multiple financial institutions to empower corps members with start-up capitals towards self- reliance through personal investments in the post- service years. Today, Nigeria is a nation, where some corps members have become employers of labor after the mandatory service year because of the skills through SAED and the financial backing of some institutions partnering with NYSC to finance their business proposals. The Central Bank of Nigera (CBN), Bank of Industry (BOI), Heritage Bank, (HB) and Access Bank among others can attest to it. These benefits are a product of Gen. Ibrahim's leadership ingenuity.

Furthermore, the NYSC boss has accepted, adopted and is implementing President Muhammadu Buhari's policy and initiatives on agriculture and food security. Similarly, the NYSC under Ibrahim's guidiance has also partnered agric-based institutions and other organisations to sponsor training of serving corps members in farming techniques, cropping and mechanized agriculture.

Today, the previously moribund NYSC farms across the federation have come up alive and new farm plantations have sprouted. NYSC alone has cultivated over 60, 000 hectares of rice fields as at 2021. The harvested rice is processed for consumption in the scheme's owned ricemills and the investments are still being consolidated. Undoubtedly, this is an enormous contribution of corps members to food availability in the country .

The NYSC boss is not resting on his oars. Gen. Ibrahim has revitalised NYSC investment ventures across the country, such as garment, bread and table water factories, which are functioning at maximum productivity. They also double as
training avenues for serving corps members.

Its shocking and indeed novel that the NYSC under Gen. Ibrahim has started to generate and remit revenues from these investments into into the federation account. In 2020, the NYSC paid N280 million into FGN coffers and in 2021, a sumptuous sum of over N.5 billion was remitted, with plans to keep increasing its revenue generation.

And the big bang! Gen. Ibrahim has conceptualised and vigorously pursuing the establishment of the NYSC Trust Fund. He is working towards the future. Sensitization campaigns on this initiative have gone virile and received favorable endorsements from a wide spectrum of Nigerians.

When the NYSC Trust Fund comes into fruition, it will provide a wider range of corps members more access to start-up captals to finance their private business ideas as they blissfully exit the year of service to fatherland. The expected impacts of these laudable initiatives in the nearest future are truely tremendous! Gen. Ibrahim truely deserves more than the award of excellence from Unijos alumni, but a national honour.

Prince is a journalist and wrote this piece from Guzape, Abuja.

...tasks Gov to spend his remaining two years on prayers for forgiveness

Chief Philip Agbese, the leading aspirant for Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo federal constituency in 2023, has rejected the drunkard tag used by Governor Samuel Ortom on the people of Benue State.

Rather, Agbese, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said Benue people are the victims of Ortom's maladministration, mendacity and misrule in the last six years.

Governor Ortom, speaking at the commissioning of Remnant Christian Network Embassy’s new edifice in Makurdi was quoted to have said "If you go round Makurdi town, our people start drinking beer from 9 am and some from there, they will go to sleep and they come back and insult the governor for not helping them to add value to their lives".

But in a statement signed by Akor Ikwuoche,
the Director-General, Philip Agbese Campaign Organisation (PACO), the astute UK-trained legal practitioner said while such unguarded utterances aren't strange from the governor, " It appears his 'mouth diarrhoea' has gotten out of control and may require combined spiritual and medical therapy".

He recalled how Ortom launched scathing attacks on President Buhari Muhammadu, Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Dr George Akume and other elder statements in a bid to attract public sympathy and divert attention.

Agbese said it is, however, unfortunate that some "noble sons and daughters of Benue, who cheered when this intractable ailment came on him are now on the receiving end as they are now known as 'drunkards' beyond the state. It speaks volumes about what our governor represents and how he presents us before his contemporaries. As they say, betrayal never comes from your enemies".

The statement added " We at the Philip Agbese Campaign Organisation totally reject this drunkard tag on our illustrious brothers and sisters. It is false, treacherous and demeaning. May we remind the governor that Benue has produced some of the country's most respected brains in different fields of endeavours. How come suddenly they are all drunkards for holding him accountable for his misrule in the last six years?

"Perhaps still having hysteria over the N18.5 billion bailout funds, the governor should return to reality and understand that Benue people are wiser now and tired of his usual blame games. Our people have had enough of the attacks on President Buhari as well as the herdsmen and IDPs propaganda. They are demanding translucency. They are not drunkards. He should provide answers as to why the workers and pensioners are being owed. He should address them on why there's untold hardship and prove that Benue is not 'worst than Afghanistan' as rightly suggested by our principal Chief Philip Agbese.

"Just like Agbese, a UK-trained lawyer, human rights activist and entrepreneur, Enone natives are not drunkards. Never! The good people of Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo federal constituency despite the governor's abysmal leadership have proven to be hardworking, intellectually sound and goal getters.

"If there's anyone who should be labelled a drunkard, it is Ortom who may have picked up this habit during his time toiling around different motor parks, first as a tout and then taxi driver. He probably thinks because he is the only Benue indigene that can afford a bottle of Andre Champagne at N3,500 due to the hardship that he brought on the state, everyone else seems to be tipsy on something cheaper. But we wish to advise Ortom to take out time to reflect and stop getting drunk at ceremonies and thinking that his citizens are 'high'.

"Publicly acknowledging criticism is good news. At least, he is aware that the people, victims of his maladministration and mendacity are fed up. Even his most staunch supporters are exhausted of the excuses. They want more action and less talk".

Describing Ortom as a monumental failure and disaster, the Philip Agbese Campaign Organisation, therefore, urged the governor to spend his remaining two years on prayers. It said perhaps, through divine intervention, Benue people can forgive him.

Agbese, however, assured his people that the hour of liberation is not far again and all the rhetoric of Ortom's failed administration will be over.

The attention of Policy House International’s (Incentive Based Program- IBP) has been drawn to the recent educational challenges and set back in Niger state, north central region of Nigeria.



According to multiple media reports of Friday, November 26th 2021, Boko Haram has launched a serious campaign where parents are being forced to withdraw their kids from schools in some parts of the state. According to the report, the SSG to the Niger state government lamented that farmers are now being forced to pay levies to enable them access their various farms as well.



For us at the Incentive Based program, this is double tragedy for our intervention in the region, first, it is a minus for our campaign for reduction in the number of out of school children and the second it is a big blow for food security in the region which has suffered serious setbacks in recent times due to attacks on farmers and the increase in the number of schools that were shut down in the 1st and second quarter of 2021.



We call on the Nigeria government to secure the areas where Boko Haram is collecting levies from farmers and restore civil governance and authority in those areas so identified and ensure that no parent is compelled to withdraw his or her wards from schools not only in Niger state but in all educationally disadvantaged and challenged regions in Nigeria.

We are monitoring the situation in Niger state Nigeria and we are in touch with relevant stakeholders in the educational sector with a view to coordinating efforts in supporting the Nigerian government at all levels.

The NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim has been presented an Award of Excellence by the University of Jos Alumni Association.

This, the University said was in recognition of his tremendous achievements since assuming duty as the 18th Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps over two years ago.

Speaking during the award presentation today, the University of Jos Vice-Chancellor Designate, Prof. Ishaya Tanko extoled the sterling leadership qualities of the Director-General, adding that Unijos has been observing his transformational achievements in the Scheme.

He commended General Ibrahim for the uncommon feat, adding that the award bestowed on him was also in recognition of his undaunting commitment to national development by tapping Corps potentials.

The VC designate while presenting the goodwill message from the Senate, Management, Staff and Students of Unijos added that the institution recognizes the relevance of the NYSC Scheme to overall national development.

Prof Tanko stated further that universities are made stronger by the strength of their alumni adding that, "we will seek every opportunity to strenghten the synergy of all Unijos alumni to strenghten the institution".

The National President, Unijos Alumni, Pastor Nuhu Sani described the Director-General as a good ambassador of the university, urging him to keep up the good work he is doing.

"Graduates of Unijos are making us proud and we will keep telling the world about them", he said.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unijos Alumni, Abuja Chapter, Mr Joseph Chukwu said Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim's name came topmost when preparations were on-going for nomination for the award.

He said the Alumni would continue to harness the ingenuinety of NYSC Director-General and other alumni of the University of Jos for the benefit of humanity.

"We will continue to pray for your successful tenure of office and also in future assignments" he said.

In his response, Brigadier General Shuaibu lbrahim congratulated the Vice-Chancellor designate on his appointment.

He stated that he is proud of the University of Jos because the institution has impacted his life and others positively.

Ibrahim lauded the management of the institution for reaching out to its alumni, saying, "l am so proud of the university".

He assured the management of the University of Jos of his continuous support.

He added that the award would spur him for greater achievements.

He said the Scheme always thinks outside the box, and would leverage on the potentials of Corps Members for national development.

"Last year the NYSC generated over two hundred and eighty million Naira which we paid into the federation account.

This year we also realised five hundred and eleven million Naira which we equally paid into the Federation Account and we are determined that by next year we are going to generate more", he said.

Ibrahim said the Scheme has revitalised its ventures: garment factories, bread and table water factories for maximum productivity. The ventures also serve as training avenue for Corps Members.

The DG said NYSC had partnered many institutions towards empowering Corps Members for self-reliance.

He listed the Bank of Industry, Central Bank of Nigera, Heritage Bank, Access Bank among others as institutions that offer start up capitals for Corps Members to finance their business proposals.

He also said efforts are in top gear with strong advocacy for the establishment of NYSC Trust Fund, which if actualised will enable Corps Members to have access to start-up captitals to finance their business ideas as they exit service.

The Director-General said NYSC film, NYSC National Cultural Troupe are some of the innovations introduced into the NYSC Scheme for the enhancement of Corps potentials for greater output.

By Kolawole Abe


It is the dream of every graduate of tertiary institutions in Nigeria to adorn the NYSC brown Khaki uniform. We have been regaled with tales of how newly deployed corp members wear their attires posing for the cameras and sending them to their parents and loved ones. The feeling is usually ecstatic, and a dream come true.

Parents and guardians are also not left out of the euphoria. You could easily hear parents discussing about their wards deployed for the mandatory youth service year in a loud tone. This is the NYSC, the scheme that has continued to serve the critical purpose of national integration and nation building amongst the teeming youthful population in the country. Welcome to the world of the NYSC, where people from various ethnicity and religion converge pursuant to a common goal in the country's interest.

I have, on numerous forums, canvassed for improved funding for the operations of the NYSC due to its critical role in the socio-economic development of the country. My position has been hinged on the invaluable role the one year service period plays in the lives of our youths. We should also remember that some youths have, as a result of their engagement in the NYSC, realized their potentials and set out to conquer in their various life endeavours. Some have also met their life partners, while some have been beneficiaries of goodwill from parts of the country they found themselves. And the list goes on.

Beyond all of the above mentioned, I believe that a critical aspect of the NYSC has been neglected for a long time: the corp members themselves. Their sacrifices and efforts in important health, educational and agricultural sectors have not been given adequate recognition.

From NYSC doctors to teachers that are rendering invaluable services in public hospitals and schools to the deployment of corp members during elections in the country. While it is sad that some paid the supreme price in service to the country, it does not by any stretch of imagination diminish the fact that the Corp members are the true national heroes.

One needed to tour rural communities in parts of Nigeria and see the level of bonding exhibited between corp members and members of the host communities. In most cases, despite the language barrier, corp members find a way to interact and live in peace in their host communities.

I dare say corp members live the life of patriots, who leave the comfort of their homes to places, they have not visited before in most instances and blend to their culture and way of life throughout their service year, making contributions to the growth and development of the area.

If this is not an act of patriotism, I don't know what else to call it. Call it the life of sacrifice. You won't be wrong too, because we are availed daily with tales of corp members doing exploits in their places of primary assignment. It’s on record that schools have been built, vocational centres erected and a host of other notable projects mainly executed by corp members from their savings and donations from charitable individuals and organizations. Corp members have also been active as first-line responders in times of crisis, as evident in times of the coronavirus pandemic, the Ebola epidemic and cholera outbreaks in some parts of the country.

It is also on record that some communities in Nigeria depend on the services of corp members in their education sector because of the value they bring to the table year in and year out. The list is endless and why every corp member must rise in defence of the NYSC scheme.

Most times, I wonder how the country would have fared without the services of corp members who dot the nook and cranny of the country working tirelessly during their service year. But we can’t all but be grateful that the leadership of the NYSC in recent times has been actively introducing reforms that further empower corps members to be well equipped as entrepreneurs through its skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development programme.

The proposed NYSC Trust Fund would indeed be a game-changer because the full manifestation of the potentials of corp members would be availed the country. And Nigeria would be better for it. I think it is time for every corp member to take their pride in place as true national heroes in the scheme of affairs in the country. Your sacrifices towards a great and better Nigeria are outstanding and appreciated. Needless I say more, the corp member is an embodiment of strength, resilience and dexterity. We must admit and recognize this much in our quest for greatness as a people and as a country.

To all the corp members out there giving their best, I salute your courage in the face of danger; I salute your contributions to the socio-economic development of Nigeria, now and always. And to all prospective corps members, may your road be rough!


Abe is a former PRO of NANS and wrote from Akure.

2021 BATCH 'C'STREAM II NYSC ORIENTATION COURSE: SCREENING, COVID 19 RAPID DIAGNOSTIC TEST OF PROSPECTIVE CORPS MEMBERS AND CAMP OFFICIALS

Pictures below show Prospective Corps members and Camp Officials screened and tested at the Camp gate before being admitted into the Orientation Camp.

The Coalition Against Corruption in Nigeria, has threatened a mass protest if President Muhammadu Buhari fails to order an immediate suspension of the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps NSCDC, Mr Ahmed Abubakar Audi. It also asked the National Assembly, to order an immediate probe, into the activities of the NSCDC, amidst allegations of corrupt practices, by the NSCDC boss.

The group at a media briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, said it is displeased, by the continuous silence of President Buhari, despite several allegations of corruption, against Mr Audi, over the past few months.

The group listed among several allegations against the NSCDC boss, the victimisation of staff and Personel of the corp, by the CG, in an Arbitrary manner.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Barrister Ade Mogbojuri and Comrade Ishaq Bello, said since the assumption of Audi as the CG of the NSCDC, there has been flagrant violations of every known due process in the agency. It accused Audi of illegally moving the procurement Unit of the agency to his office, thereby putting it under his direct control.

The group further accused Audi of running a cartel for contract award in the agency, while also engaging illegal agents, in the collection of kickback, for contracts that are over-inflated and in most cases poorly executed.

The group also said Audi is known to be awarding contracts to unknown companies without Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), most of which are owned by the CG and his cronies.

"Having made several calls for the probe and suspension of Mr Audi as the CG of NSCDC, without any results, we have come to the conclusion, that we will not wait, and allow this abuse of office and pervasive corruption to continue. We have therefore, decided as patriotic Nigerians, to press further our call for action. We shall in the next couple of days, present our formal petition to the National Assembly, and mobilise our members, Students, labour and civil society associates, to save Nigeria, from the monumental corruption taking place in the NSCDC."

"As security organization, it is dangerous to our collective national security, to have such, reduced to a centre of corruption and absurdities, as being witnessed under Mr Audi." the statement concluded

By David Onmeje

It takes a great dosage of patriotism for anyone to be glorified as a national hero for his country. Experience has indicated that patriotism to Nigeria is a rare virtue among Nigerians. But it is an essential ingredient and the self-sacrifice every citizen must make to build the anticipated virile and strong nation.

In recent times, members of the National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC) have exemplified the rarest spirit and courage of patriotism to Nigeria during the mandatory one year service to the nation. They have dared deadly territories and conquered multiple daunting challenges for the sake of serving Nigeria, their fatherland.

Particularly, under the leadership of the incumbent NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim Ph.D, Corps members and the scheme have assumed new dimensions of reorientation and excellence. And in tandem, corps members have consistently dispensed themselves as patriotic heroes and heroines of the national struggle for stability and have been admirable partners in moments of national emergencies.

As foresighted Gen. Ibrahim’s agenda since 2019, when President Muhammadu Buhari entrusted him with the leadership of the NYSC scheme, he enunciated an agenda for himself. He proclaimed his vision of the NYSC as to “…sustain effective utilization of the potentials of Corps Members for optimal benefit; to pursue a technologically driven organization to deepen effective service delivery; to improve on the welfare and security of corps members and staff; strengthen existing collaboration with stakeholders; and reinvigorate NYSC ventures and Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme in line with the NYSC Act for greater impact.”

Today, Corps members have blended with this vision in service to Nigeria. Former American President, Theodore Roosevelt explained the clearest meaning of patriotism. He said, “Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country." This is the exact manifestation of Corps members in Nigeria today.

As first kicker, Corps members are the greatest symbols and steady manifestations or consummation of Nigeria's efforts at national integration, unity, togetherness and peace! Some Nigerians hardly pay attention to scanty details. But it is exemplary that Corps members forsake the comfort of their homes and accept posting to serve their country in completely strange lands, far away from their home states.

Corps members unreservedly interact and blend with their new hosts, by learning and exchanging new cultures and traditions. They freely make life-time friendships which are not deterred by the sentiments of tribe or religion. Also, they render appreciable community services to Nigerians in these new domiciliary abodes in the spirit of love and fraternity.

Youth Corpers also take incredible risks for the sake of their country. Available statistics have shown the intervention and active participation of these young Nigerian graduates in national health crises emergency, such as their conscription into the control of epidemics like Lassa fever, Ebola, and Cholera among others.

But most impressively, Corps members throughout the federation were at the forefront of the battle against combating the wild spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Corps members, embarked on penetrative sensitization campaigns; whlist most Nigerian communities enjoyed free hand sanitizers, facemasks, liquid soaps et al, courtesy of serving corpers as their contribution in bringing succour to the distressed populace.


The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari launched an ambitious policy on promotion of robust agriculture with various initiatives. There are scores of NYSC farms dotting the landscapes of many states in Nigeria; from North to South measuring over 60, 000 hectares and still expanding. Corpers have actively picked up the challenge of President Buhari’s rice policy by cultivating tens of thousands of rice plantations every cropping season, which is have harvested and processed in NYSC Rice Mills for consumption. It is a welcome development that serving Corps members are contributing to national food sufficiency and security.

Furthermore, the knowledge corps members acquire through the scheme’s partnership with Access and Unity Banks to fund Business Plan Development programmes for Corps Members, alongside, the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) is also fruitful. The agricultural skills and business training, farm internship, mentoring and farm input supplies extended to serving corpers have tuned around the farms fortunes of some rural communities in agro-businesses and other investments.


Many Nigerians are oblivious of the pleasant reality that countless Corps members have also been indirectly enlisted into the FGN's campaigns to tackle the prevalent and frightening unemployment rate in the country in their post-service years. Through the experience acquired during Orientation Camps through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme (SAED) has equipped most Corpers with self-sustaining practical skills, which many have converted into real time advantage in the post service years.

SAED has enabled thousands of Corps members to venture into investments and employed the services of other Nigerians. Those Nigerians who have benefited from these gestures have sustained their applause for the scheme.

Additionally, the engagement of Corps members by INEC as adhoc staff in the conduct of general elections in the country has significantly reduced the prevalence of connivance with dubious politicians to rig or manipulate the electoral process. While its undeniable that the electoral system in Nigeria is still flawed with malpractices, Corps members who serve in the capacity of adhoc staff during elections have substantially conferred credibility on the electoral process in many troublesome areas.

This is most times done at the risk of the personal lives of Corps members or they face dangers which would not have come their path ordinarily, just because they are patriotic citizens, with an overriding zeal to see a better Nigeria.

In most rural communities, Corp members market themselves as the Ambassadors of Nigeria! They serve as bridges between rurality and modernity, without grudges because the interest of the nation is paramount in their hearts. So, in remote communities, where regular teachers reject postings, a Corps member accepts the challenge to serve as a teacher. He or she endures all hardships and deprivations to serve the country and performs the assignment of imparting knowledge to tender Nigerians committedly and distinctively.

Therefore, in or out of the service year, Nigerians with the imprimatur of the NYSC make Nigeria and her citizens proud. Corps members truly represent the idealistic posturing of true patriots in the arduous task of Nation-building. It is only Godly for Nigerians to support Corps members in order to continue to bridge the gulf in critical areas of the economy in this collective journey of existentialism for a greater nation. Youth Corpers are undoubtedly, the unsung heroes and heroines of Nigeria.


Onmeje wrote this piece from the United Kingdom.

The Press Conference held by Anti-Corruption Network led by Senator Dino Melaye on the budgeting System in Nigeria on 18th November, 2021 is laughable to say the least.

As patriotic, decent and responsible Civil Society Organization, we have paintakenly studied the statement and observed deliberate inaccuracies against the House Committee on Finance in the House of Representatives and Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS).

We have invariably concluded that rather than make any sense, the statement merely succeeded in exposing ignorance of budget passage in the National Assembly.

The budget in question, submitted to the House of Representatives Committee on Finance by the Federal Inland Revenue service has yet to be approved, which means a critical review of the budget is currently going on by the House committee as is the usual practice in the past as well.

On our part, we have always monitored the strict compliance of the House Committee on Finance to Budgetary processes and has no doubt as to the Committee's sense of patriotism and fairness.

It is important to educate the general public not to be sway by that statement.

Signed

Comrade Hussein Muhammad
General Secretary
Conscience Nigeria
21st November 2021

The National Youth Service Corps has come under scrutiny in recent times regarding its relevance in the scheme of things in the country. Some stakeholders have consequently advocated for its scrapping. However, this position was countered by some schools of thought, who argued that the NYSC remains critical in the scheme of things in the country.

Another area of discourse is the involvement of the NYSC in elections in the country. It has also been argued that the participation of corps members in elections in the country has exposed them to harm, as evident in the unfortunate incident in 2011 where some corps members lost their lives as a result of electoral violence that characterised the elections in some parts of the country.
Consequently, this medium sought the views of stakeholders with regards to the role of the NYSC in nation-building and specifically in midwifing credible elections in Nigeria.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a program set up by the Nigerian government to involve Nigerian graduates in nation-building and the country's development. There is no military conscription in Nigeria, but since 1973 graduates of universities and later polytechnics have been required to take part in the National Youth Service Corps programme for one year.

Over the years, the scheme has evolved to play roles in some aspects of national life. One of such roles is the participation of youth corp members in elections as Adhoc staff. According to Igwe Ude, a youth empowerment advocate, he stated that the NYSC as an institution had played a critical role in the socio-economic development of Nigeria. He further asserted that there is a need for the government to continue to evolve strategies that would maximise the potentials of youths across the country.

“The NYSC is a critical component in nation-building in Nigeria. Its contribution to national development has been outstanding. Take the example of corp members as ad-hoc staff during elections. That is very critical if we must admit. Let us imagine how elections would have been without the involvement of corp members as ad-hoc staff.”

Bamidele Alolanle, a development expert, corroborated this view; he posited that the NYSC scheme has been contributing positively to sustainable growth and development in Nigeria. He averred that the challenge is that most people still see the NYSC in light of the '80s, where the focus was exclusively that of national integration.

“The NYSC has evolved over the years into a scheme that addresses some of the contemporary challenges in the country. The recent drive with regards to skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development is a point to note. This is aside from the involvement of corp members in the conduct of elections in the country. The recent elections in Anambra state provide us with a good example of how critical the NYSC is in the conduct of elections. There was footage of the NYSC DG moving around the state encouraging corps members to give their best without compromising.”

This medium was able to gather from reliable sources that the management of the NYSC has been emphasising nonpartisanship on the part of corp members during elections. According to information collected from sources in the NYSC secretariat, it was revealed that before elections, the NYSC management sensitizes corp members on the rules of engagement during elections.

A top management staff of the NYSC, who pleaded anonymity, stated that the management of NYSC has continually emphasized fairness in the discharge of their duties during elections due to its critical role in the credibility of the electoral process in the country.

“If we recall, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it would continue to use members of National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) for the conduct of elections in the country because corps members had contributed enormously to recent success and improvement in the overall conduct of elections in Nigeria.”

“This is informed by empirical evidence on how the NYSC has been instrumental to the success of elections in Nigeria. I can tell you that under the new dispensation, the DG of the NYSC has been outstanding in ensuring that the NYSC remains a partner in progress in the conduct of elections in Nigeria through numerous innovations and the Anambra elections provides us with an example that saw the DG on the ground in Anambra state to supervise the participation of corp members during the elections. This is a first and an indication of how dexterous the DG can be with regards to the operations of the NYSC."

In a statement credited to the DG of the NYSC during the Anambra elections, he stated that corps members had written their names in the annals of history, having contributed towards the entrenchment of the credible electoral process. He enjoined them to remain impartial and perform their duties in line with the established rules.

In a similar vein, the governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, commended the involvement of the NYSC in general elections in Ekiti State. He stated that Ekiti was adjudged the freest and fairest; this was made possible because of the cooperation of stakeholders to deliver on their mandates, especially the NYSC.

This medium concludes that the role of the NYSC in midwifing credible elections in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized, and it is hoped that the relevant stakeholders continue to extend support to the scheme in the fulfilment of its mandate.

The attention of NYSC Ondo Management has been drawn to a report credited to an online medium stating that the NYSC has expressed worry over the high rate of drug abuse and addiction among Corps Members.

The online report states that the State Coordinator, Mrs. Victoria Nnenna Ani '"lamented that the situation calls for concern, following the large number of Corps Members taking illicit drugs."

The statement was purported to have been made during the 2021 Corps Employers' Workshop held in Akure.

Management wishes to clarify that no such statement was made by the State Coordinator before, during, or after the workshop.

To set the records straight, one of the employers during the workshop raised concern about the rate at which youths are exposed to hard drugs and how NYSC as a beacon of hope could assist with sensitisation and enlightenment in order to stem the tide.

Therefore, Management wishes to state that the story is a figment of the writer's imagination and should be disregarded.

NYSC Ondo State, through the NYSC Drug -- Free Club, a Community Development Service group, shall continue to work in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ), in order to ensure a drug -- free society.

Thank you.

Management.

......AS DRAWS, PRESENTATION OF SPORTS KITS SET FOR FRIDAY


All is now set for the maiden edition of the Senator Henry Seriake Dickson Football Tournament, known as Ofurumapepe Cup, with the draws and presentation of kits set to be held on Friday in Sagbama.

This is sequel to the official unveiling ceremony of the tournament, by the former Governor of Bayelsa State and Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, in Abuja few days ago.

Technical Consultant of the competition, Ono Akpe, said in a statement on Thursday, that the Ofurumapepe Cup will among other things, engage the communities within the period of the tournament, and most importantly, transform the lives of youths from the constituency.

According to Mr Akpe, the theme " Youth empowerment for Peace and Development, will also reduce youth restiveness,cult activities, and other vices to it's barest minimum in Bayelsa, as was experienced during the Restoration Cup.

He announced 19th Friday as the date of the draws and official presentation of jerseys and Sports kits to teams in the seventy six communities that make up Bayelsa West Senatorial District, at the Senatorial office of the former Governor in Sagbama, while the kick off will get underway on Saturday, 27th November, in Ekeremor Town.

He however called on youths from the Senatorial District to ensure they support their teams participating in the competition, urging them to exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship and allow the tournament to be hitch-free.

*International group commends NYSC DG on fight against fake graduates mobilised for service*

The International Society on Transparency (IST) has hailed the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim, for flushing out fake graduates from the Scheme.

The group in a statement on Wednesday said the DG's radical approach has drastically checkmated the mobilisation of ineligible Nigerians for the compulsory one-year service.

Recall that the NYSC recently held the second edition of its management meeting with heads of higher institutions of learning from some African countries.

Speaking at the event, the DG lamented the "outright sale of degree certificates to persons who never saw the four walls of University".

He noted that this "category of persons was unable to communicate in English language or express themselves on paper, to defend their qualifications".

Since he assumed office in May 2019, Brig-Gen Ibrahim has launched a campaign against fake graduates mobilised for the NYSC scheme.

In August same year, over 10 fake NYSC members were nabbed in different parts of the country.

Two months later, 85 others were handed over to the police for trial after they were arrested in camps nationwide with fake documents.

The Scheme has continued to fish out fake graduates across the country since then and the International Society on Transparency has lauded the DG for this campaign.

According to its Executive Secretary, Francis Maxwell, this has built confidence in the NYSC.

Maxwell noted that relevant stakeholders are collaborating more with the Scheme.

He, however, urged the Director-General to maintain the momentum in his quest to rid the nation of fake graduates.

.....TO PLANT 10 MILLION TREES; SET UP ABUJA HORTICULTURE VILLAGE.

In an effort to ameliorate the problems of land degradation, desertification, depletion of the forest ecosystems and biodiversity in Africa, the umbrella body of private nursery plant practitioners in the FCT, Association of Flower Nurseries and Landscaping Practitioners, Abuja (AFNALPA) has concluded arrangements to set up a Horticulture Village in Abuja as well as plant 10 million trees across the country.

This initiative is in support of His President's Buhari's pledge to drive the re-desertification project of the United Nations under the Great Green Wall Commission.

While submitting that this programme is also in support of the United Nations climate change programme including the Great Green Wall initiative to plant 100 million trees in Africa, AFNALPA in a statement on Tuesday explained that it has set a target of Five Hundred Million Naira for the pilot scheme of this project which amongst others seeks to plant 10 million trees nationwide and build the Abuja Horticulture Village.

The Association also congratulated His Excellency and Nigeria as a whole on her assumption of the leadership of Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Pan African Agency of the Great Green Wall, an agency of the United Nations.
“With Nigeria’s stature in the comity of Nations, we know that this noble initiative would be further advanced” he added.
AFNALPA also commended the Ministers of Environment, Agriculture, Water Resources Petroleum and also the FCT amongst others for demonstrating commitment in environmental matters. They saluted the President for the driving the initiative of restoring over 100 million hectares of the degraded landscape for productive agriculture in Africa.

AFNALPA promised to support this noble project which it says will help in stimulating increased agricultural activities in the region, thereby enhancing peace and security in Nigeria and across Africa. These activities, the association added, would aid the preservation of the ecosystem,
Support global warming initiative as well as the provision of greenery for the beautification of the FCT and Nigeria as a whole.

Recall that President Buhari had in October, 2021 at the Climate Change Summit, COP 26 in Glasgow Scotland, stated that "Africa is committed to the restoration of 100 million hectares of degraded land, sequestration of 250 million tonnes of carbon, creation of 10 million green jobs, resilient economic development, capacity building and development in the various Member States".

The President, at the summit stated that the programme was tailored towards ameliorating the problems of land degradation, desertification, depletion of the forest ecosystems and biodiversity in Africa.

Eleven Countries including Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Eretria, Ethopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Sudan have been selected as intervention zones for the Great Green Wall.

AFNALPA called on Nigerians in the Public and Private sector to key into this global initiative and support the Federal Government in her bid to eradicate desertification.
AFNALPA, according to them, they would soon unveil their “Plant a Tree and Save a Life Campaign” for Nigerians to key into.

They said the proposed launch of the Abuja Horticulture Village and the 10 million tree planting campaign will take place at an event to mark its 10th anniversary scheduled to take place between the 22nd and 23rd February 2022. The village which is expected to host a 10 million capacity tree nursery as well a forest reserve on a 200 hectare land in the FCT.

The event will also feature public lecture and the exhibition of best of Nigeria’s horticulture and flowering organisations.



( signed )
Omeh Mary
President
AFNALPA


Yusuf Isimaila
Organizing Chairman
AFNALPA @1O Committee.