By Onwukwe Ezeru
Special Correspondent, Umuahia
Garment and shoe producers in Aba can supply all the uniforms and shoes required by military and paramilitary forces as well as the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), to save foreign exchange, create jobs, and boost the economy.
The advocacy came from Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, who also advised the federal government to establish farms in the 36 states, using NYSC members as drivers of a youth agricultural initiative.
He made the point when he received NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Suleiman Kazaure, at Government House, Umuahia.
Ikpeazu said it should be mandatory for NYSC members to be trained by experts in various aspects of agriculture during their one-year national service, with every state providing the farms.
After the service year, he added, Abuja should make agriculture loans accessible to them to go into farming, so as to encourage youth involvement in agriculture, provide employment, and reduce the demand for white collar jobs.
“I’ve thought about how to solve the problem of unemployment in Nigeria and I think this is the best way to solve this problem.
“The NYSC is a vehicle that can drive government policies, including agriculture, and achieve good value chain in the industry,” he said.
Ikpeazu said the NYSC members will be given the opportunity to try their skills in the multidisciplinary skills centre established by his administration to equip youths to become independent in trades such as carpentry, building, and fabrics.
He promised that the erosion site at the orientation camp will be visited and the female hostel refurbished, promising that Abia will continue to assist the NYSC.
Ikpeazu also urged the NYSC to award contracts for the production of uniforms and boots to Aba tailors and shoe makers to support his administration’s drive for patronage of Aba-made goods and services.
He promised that the state government will guarantee high quality products as well as provide industrial machines and high quality inputs to a consortium of tailors and shoe makers to meet the demands of the NYSC.
He said the state will supply uniforms and boots to the military at competitive prices.
Kazaure explained that he was in the state to inspect the camp facilities for NYSC members.
He thanked Ikpeazu for the cordial relationship between the state and the NYSC and expressed appreciation for his benevolence to the NYSC.
He, however, requested Ikpeazu to help ensure erosion control in the NYSC camp, fix the dilapidated female hostel and borehole, as well as do something about Abia’s subvention to the NYSC.
