The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilised over 300,000 corps members annually, against the 2364 corps members at inception in 1973, the Director General of the scheme, Brigadier General Yushau Dogara Ahmed has said.
According to the NYSC boss, inadequate facilities in many orientation camps in the face of yearly increase in the population of corps participants are some of the challenges being face by the scheme.
The General Ahmed spoke on Tuesday at a media chat with Editors, Bureau chiefs in commemoration of the 50 years of the NYSC held in Abuja.
He bemoaned that despite the yearly increase in the population of corps participants, some states are still operating temporary orientation camps, some of which can hardly take up to 2000 corps members.
He noted that despite various challenges encountered during its 50 years of existence, the NYSC has been a remarkable success.
“By largely discharging its mandate, the scheme has remained a national asset and a beacon of hope for the Nigerian youths.
“Based on its antecedents and our firm resolve to sustain its relevance, I am confident that the future holds greater things for the scheme. With proper finding and implementation, the SAED programme will achieve unimaginable feats” he said.
The NYSC Director General further observed that in the face of competing demands that confront government at all levels, it has become imperative for the scheme to seek alternative ways of raising funds for its operations.
He expressed optimism that with the ongoing revitalization of the NYSC ventures, coupled with the vast pool of skills and talents at its disposal, the scheme will in the near future attain self-sufficiency in the production of food and kits items for corps members and earn revenue for the government.
Enumerating prospects of the scheme, General Ahmed said “As we cross into the post Golden Jubilee era, we are determined to expand the scope and capacity of the scheme to accommodate more national and international issues of interest to Nigeria as its discharges its traditional role of leadership in Africa”.
