NYSC requests Gowon’s backing 49 years after he established scheme
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Yakubu Gowon has been approached by the National Youth Corps Service (NYSC) to help create a Trust Fund for the young graduates’ scheme he established 49 years ago as military Head of State when he himself was 31.
NYSC Director General Mohammed Fadah, a Brigadier General, solicited the support of Gowon, now 87, to help create the Fund to expand the scope of the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.
The Gowon junta established the NYSC by decree Number 24 of 22 May 1973 “with a view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity” after the Civil War.
The proposed NYSC Fund also seeks to empower more corps members to establish their vocational businesses, Fadah said when he paid a visit to Gowon at his office in Abuja.
He enthused that that the Fund would reduce unemployment among graduates and make them self-reliant in the face of scarce white collar jobs.
A statement issued by NYSC Press and Public Relations Director Eddy Megwa quoted Fadah as applauding the vision of Gowon for establishing the scheme.
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Contribution to national development
Fadah said the NYSC has enabled millions of young graduates to contribute their quota to national development and urged Gowon not to relent in offering advice for the progress of the NYSC to consolidate its laudable achievements.
Gowon commended the managers of the NYSC for sustaining his vision.
“I understand you people are doing very well and people have been saying it and been reporting good about it. So, continue doing better,” he said, per The Nation.
“Thank you for coming to brief me on what you hope to achieve and build on the success of your predecessor, to ensure that the NYSC scheme continues to grow from strength to strength.”
Gowon also commended NYSC participants for living up to the ideals that established the scheme.
“Let me also appreciate all of you corps members – present and past – for making this scheme a success. It is not me, it is all of you that are doing the work that makes it so successful. You have a good Director General and board supporting that.”
