Minister of Education, Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has proposed extending the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme to a two-year duration. Alausa made this suggestion during a courtesy visit from the new NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, in Abuja on Friday.
Emphasis on Skill Development
In addition to the extension, the Minister also championed the expansion of the NYSC's Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Training program. He urged the NYSC to "give people more opportunity to become job creators that will meet the needs of the country," emphasizing the scheme's potential to foster self-reliance among graduates.
Other Initiatives
Alausa noted ongoing efforts within the Ministry of Education to digitize the verification process for foreign-trained graduates of Nigerian origin. He also advocated for increased deployment of graduate teachers to rural schools to address manpower shortages.
NYSC's Response
Brigadier General Nafiu praised the Ministry's strides in the education sector and called for the establishment of a database of Nigerian youths studying abroad, aiming to provide the government and stakeholders with detailed records and prevent the emergence of fake graduates.
He assured that the NYSC is committed to aligning with federal government policies and reforming the scheme to meet current national needs.