Youth Unemployment: Don advocates posting of Corps members to ECOWAS states

*A Nigerian University lecturer urges the Management of National Youth Service Corps to expand its operations to West African region to reduce graduate unemployment and attendant pressures on the Nigerian Labour market

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

As a strategy to reduce the rising rate of unemployment among the Nigerian youth after graduation while curbing social vices among them, a Nigerian don has admonished the Management of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to utilise the provisions of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Free Movement for the deployment of Corps Members across member states.

Prof. Oka Obono of the University of Ibadan (UI) gave the recommendation at a lecture titled, “Strategies for Sustaining the NYSC in a Changing World”, delivered at the 2021 NYSC Top Management Retreat Thursday, April 15 in Suleja, Niger State.

Brigadier-General Shuaibu Ibrahim, Director-General of NYSC

The University lecturer stated this would reduce unemployment among the country’s teeming youth, and curb the increasing rate of social vices among them, says agency report.

Obono as well called on all stakeholders to embrace expansion strategies that would be of benefit to the youth.

He said: “Expand operations to West African region thereby reducing internal graduate unemployment and reduce pressures on the Nigerian Labour market.”

The don, who bemoaned inter-ethnic distrust as the bane of the county’s problems, commended Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim for his exemplary leadership style since assuming duty as the 18th Director-General of NYSC.

He, therefore, urged all stakeholders to adopt high level of diplomacy and advocacy to positively engage the unlearned youths who are potential threats to societal peace and national development.

Brigadier-General Shuaibu Ibrahim, NYSC Director-General, in his remarks on the occasion, said that the retreat was a platform for the Scheme’s appraisal of its operations by the top management.

Ibrahim stated that it would help the Management to formulate new strategies that will guide the NYSC operations in a changing world.

He noted: “We will intensify more on our proactive disposition to official engagements to move the Scheme Forward.”