NYSC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has said that all members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme at orientation camps across the country, will undergo one of the new Antigen-Based tests.
Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the NCDC Director General who made this known at the PTF briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, said that the process of procurement of the antigen-based test is almost completed.
He said the move is part of efforts to ensure the safe re-opening of NYSC camps in the country.
“We will test everyone to enable us keep our camps safe with the understanding of what is going on in the country,” he said.
Ihekweazu said that government had launched an Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) call vanguard in all the states with young people interested in the IPC being trained for self management and regulation in the camps as they open.
The NCDC DG explained that the risk assessment of all the camps has been on in the last few weeks and assured parents of the safety of their children in camps.
He advised parents to encourage their children to do the needful before resuming in the camps.
He said that though the youths are at lower risk, yet “lower risk does not mean no risk.”
 
Antigen-based Test = Quick Covid19 Test
 

The NYSC announced on Tuesday that 43 hoodlums, who invaded its Abuja camp, had been arrested and some of the stolen items recovered.
Its Director-General, Shuaibu Ibrahim, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that some of the invaders included married women and young persons.
The invaders had stormed the NYSC Orientation camp located in Kubwa, Bwari Local Government, to loot food, kits and other camp items they believed were kept in the stores.
“They came in at 7 a.m. and burgled the store where the FCT administration kept palliatives for COVID-19 victims, but found the store empty as everything was distributed since July.
READ ALSO: MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL TO THE 2019 BATCH ‘C’ STREAM ONE CORPS MEMBERS PASSING-OUT FROM SERVICE
“We told them that we do not have anything left. But when that first group left, another group came and burgled other stores in camp where our NYSC kits are kept.
“They took the NYSC kits comprising of hats, caps and boots. They also took plastic chairs, mattresses, freezers and drums used to barricade the gate.
“The hoodlums proceeded to the NYSC coordinator’s residence, broke the wall, removed television sets, air conditioners, freezers, among other items” he said.
The director-general, however, confirmed that some of the items had been recovered from the communities around the camp.
He appealed to Nigerians to respect the NYSC camps in view of the contribution of corps members to national development.
“As we speak, principals of schools have been calling for corps members. Hospitals are also anxious and so are many other establishments.
“We are about to resume camp and we need to train these corp members so that they can resume their normal contribution to our country,” he said.
He thanked the Chief of Army Staff for the timely intervention and for deploying soldiers to protect all camps nationwide.
Also speaking, the NYSC Coordinator in the FCT, Walida Sadiq, said that the hoodlums scaled the fence to gain entry into the camp.
“They burnt tyres and threw them into the camp in an attempt to set structures ablaze.
“Thank God for the timely intervention of the army. The NYSC director-general alerted them and I alerted the Commissioner of Police.
“They (looters) took away uniforms, kits, loud speakers, toilet seats and power generators,” she lamented.
 
Ms Sadiq appealed to youth to avoid destroying the nation, pointing out that they would always regret such unruly behavior.
“Youths must learn to respect constituted authority and the government. The nation cannot progress when its youths behave in such a shameful way,” Ms Sadiq said.
 
 

The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim conveys his deepest appreciation to all the PCMs who have been at home in the past six months, waiting to be mobilised to the NYSC Orientation Camps nationwide for commencement of Service.

It is very important to state that nobody anticipated the sad disruption of the operations of the Scheme, and other national programmes arising from COVID-19 – a global challenge threatening over two hundred countries.

The long period of waiting, no doubt has been quite challenging and frustrating as it seemingly constitutes a big drawback to all your planned actions for the year.

However, as NYSC Management salutes your courage and tenacity, in spite of the challenges posed by the global pandemic, an English maxim says: it is better to be late than the late. Discretion is the better part of valour.

Note that the action taken by the Federal Government by shutting down the operations of so many institutions, cutting across the various spheres of our economy was to primarily safeguard the lives of citizens which is the core responsibility of Governments the world over.

There is no gainsaying the fact that we all need to be alive to contribute our own quota to national unity, integration and development which the National Youth Service Corps has continued to champion in forty- seven years.

The long period of waiting has been very discouraging as expected, but graciously, you all have your lives intact which is what matters the most. Happily, we are on the verge of reopening the camps, working hard in harmony with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 on safe Orientation Camp resumption.

We can say delightfully that we are approaching the end of the tunnel, and in no distant time will resume full operations while strictly observing safety protocols. Meanwhile, as we jointly await the cheering news, let us continue to be diligent in prioritising our well-being by adhering strictly to COVID-19 safety protocols such as: frequent washing of hands with soap under running water, use of face mask, two metre-social distancing and use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers.

Always stay tuned to the NYSC traditional and new media platforms for authentic information.

Together, we shall triumph.

God bless you.

Management

Ahead of planned nationwide re-opening of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camps, Anambra State Government has pledged to provide adequate support services to guarantee the safe resumption of camping activities.

The State Commissioner for Youth Empowerment and Creative Economy, Prof Theresa Obiekezie said this yesterday, while receiving a delegation of NYSC led by its Director, South East Area Office, Alhaji Ahmed Ikaka.

The commissioner assured of the government’s commitment to put the state orientation camp in good condition for the incoming corps members posted to the state.

She added that the state government through her ministry would sustain the safety of corps members, even as those who served in the state felt at home and wanted to stay back.

READ ALSO: NYSC Seeks Govt Assistance on Re-opening

According to Obiekezie, the government has been supporting the scheme to enable it to fully actualise the objective of youth development, capacity building and value re-orientation

She said that the working relationship between the state government and the scheme would be strengthened so as to impact the lives of corps members

Earlier, the Director, South East Area Office of NYSC, Alhaji Ikaka, underscored the importance of creating an enabling and safe environment for the members

While praising the state government for the provision of infrastructure, he requested for construction of more hostels as well as quarters for its staff members

He noted that the state had in the past, one of the worst orientation camps in the nation, but presently under the watch of the present administration, they never had it so good

The director observed that the scheme had been generating manpower especially, in secondary schools across the nation, even as corps members were fully engaged in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic

We collaborated with NCDC in many areas. Some corps members produced sanitisers and hand washing equipment that are helpful against COVID-19 pandemic,’’ Alhaji Ikaka stated

Following the nod given by the Federal Government to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to start planning for the next orientation exercise , the Imo State chapter has appealed to the State government to assist it in providing logistics to observe the COVID -19 protocols.
The State coordinator of NYSC, Suleman Abdul made the request when they paid a courtesy call to the State Task force on COVID -19, led by professor Maurice Iwu at the Government House, Owerri yesterday.
Abdul informed that in adherence to the protocol, the camp reduced its 600 intake to 200 per camp while they seek for another location at Orlu.
“We have started our preparations for the orientation exercise, we have sanitizers, handwashing machine and water, but we have our major problems which is to get logistic and support.
“Secondly, on collection of samples , we used first two days to collect samples , but we don’t have expertise , we need your help in this area.” Abdul said.
READ ALSO: Anambra govt Pledges Support for Safe NYSC Orientation Camp Resumption
Reacting to his request, Iwu assured the NYSC to relay their message to the governor, Hope Uzodimma, however, he added that he had no fear that their request will be granted, he also urged them to be agent of change by using corps members to sensitise the public.
“The Federal Government is very careful in reopening of schools, some of them that are sophisticated more than Africa opened their schools and came back, we have to be careful that this corps members are not the super spreaders themselves.” Iwu said.

The National Youth Service has agreed to partner National Blood Transfusion Service in the dissemination of messages on blood safety and voluntary non – remunerated blood donation to the Nigerian public.

This disclosure was made by the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim while welcoming the National Coordinator of NBTS, Dr. Omale Joseph Amedu who was on a courtesy visit to the NYSC Director -General today in his office.

Gen Ibrahim, who eulogized successive batches of Corps Members on their contributions to national development, particularly the present of Corps Members who stood to be counted in the battle against COVID-19 with various inventions and donations of materials such as dispensers, face masks, sanitizers and liquid soaps, among others, revealed that the Scheme mobilizes an average of 350,000 Corps Members annually, which places it on a strategic position to drive the advocacy on blood safety and voluntary non- remunerated blood donation.

“I want to assure you of our cooperation in this regard, as putting the NYSC as a platform to sensitize Nigerians on your mandate is a welcome development. We will appoint Desk Officer that will liaise with you to kickstart the process”, Ibrahim said.

Earlier, the National Blood Transfussion Service had decried the low level of public awareness on voluntary blood donation in Nigeria. The agency said this emanated from deep cultural myths and misconceptions on voluntary blood donation by members of the public.

The National Coordinator, Dr. Amedu, who sought the partnership with the NYSC Scheme lamented the wide gap in demand and supply of safe blood units in the country.

He described NYSC Scheme as a veritable medium to achieve the mandate of national re-orientation on safe blood donation. Read Also :NYSC Documentation Explained

He added that the NBTS is poised to establish a National Strategic Blood Reserve for emergencies through Public-Private- Partnership that would create jobs, reduce poverty and generate revenue for the Government.

“The role of the youths in achieving these concepts cannot be over- emphasized. To achieve these initiatives, there is need to mobilize the youths which constitute about 85% of the voluntary non-renumerated blood donor pool”.

“In view of the need to have a robust national blood system and key into the World Health Organization’s Action Framework to advance access to safe, effective and quality assured blood production, the management of NBTS wishes to strengthen her mandate in collaboration with the NYSC”, Amedu said. Speaking further, he stated that the NBTS is working towards achieving One Million Safe Blood Units Initiative which will ensure that only safe blood is available for transfussion. Read Also: Nalda Set To Train NYSC Corps Members In Mechanized Farming

Amedu requested for the formation of National Blood Transfusion Service Safety Club NYSC Community Development Service (CDS) group and organization of health seminars during NYSC Orientation programme held nationwide.

He said the synergy with the NYSC would enable every NYSC voluntary donour know their blood group, free of charge, and also access free health check-up whenever they present themselves for pre-donation counselling and blood donation.

The National Agricultural Land Development Authority, NALDA, on Saturday, disclosed of training National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members on mechanized farming under the Back-to-Farm initiative towards enormous food production and job creation.
This was made known by the Executive Secretary, NALDA, Prince Paul Ikonne, during a virtual meeting with the Director-General, NYSC, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, and management.
Ikonne also expressed the readiness of NALDA to partner with NYSC to train corps members on new farming techniques with value chain benefits that would make them self-employed, produce food for the country and create wealth for themselves and also becoming an employer of labour.
He further stated that NALDA had designed a programme called, ‘Back-to-Farm’, in view of including corps members who are in great numbers among the Nigerian youth, which they would be actively engaged in agricultural training and incentives.
While speaking he described the corps as a veritable platform to harness skills of young Nigerians and graduates towards achieving self-employment and national development.
He said: “This is part of the agency’s mandate towards the implementation of the Federal Government’s agenda to ensure food sufficiency and diversify the nation’s economy.
“NALDA had designed a programme, titled; ‘Back to Farm’, where corps members would be actively engaged in agricultural training in a conducive environment with necessary incentives.
“The programme would enable Corps Members to engage in profitable mechanized farming.”
The NALDA boss also pointed that there are NYSC Farms across the country which could be used as training ground for corps members.
Meanwhile, the NYSC DG, General Shuaibu Ibrahim, commended the federal government for the initiative through NALDA, and also for the partnership move with NYSC under the initiative.
According to Ibrahim, the partnership will be of enormous benefit to corps members who most at times end up in the labour market waiting for white-collar jobs, but with the Back-To-Farm initiative basically designed for Nigerian youth, it would add value to their lives and secure their future as entrepreneurs along various value chains in the agricultural sector and contribute to the growth and development of the economy.
Also, the NYSC boss disclosed that the Scheme had mobilized over 350,000 corps members annually with different skills that would make them self-reliant and also employ other youth.
By Gabriel Ewepu

The decision to reverse or tamper with any part of a national program is a very sensitive one that requires deep thinking and reflection. Historical perspective rightly provides us an insight and ideas behind any establishment or creation.

Despite being the only living asset this country has bequeathed its youth, it is incomprehensible that the Economic Sustainability Committee headed by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo will recommend that the NYSC orientation camp to be suspended for, at least, 24 months.

Formation of NYSC remains one good development that has kept us running as one Nigeria. Therefore, calling for suspension of first and one of its four cardinal programs amounts to erasure; a way of saying NYSC is no longer needed.

How come we are pushing hard to suspend a pivotal part of the only scheme that has given graduates across Nigeria institutions of higher learning the opportunity to see beyond their immediate societies, inculcate other peoples’ ways of life and contribute their quota to the fatherland?

While it is understandable that the coronavirus pandemic is currently shaking the world and has in fact crippled our economy in no small way, but it is still not enough to sacrifice the future of our youths on the altar of economic downturn.

Although, long before now, the scheme has met with barrage of criticisms from some Nigerians, citing the fact that the program has failed to achieve any of its set objectives.

Some have pointed out the number of corps members killed in the regions they were sent to due to ethnic and religious violence; others claim that it is now an avenue for massive corruption by government officials.

We can still map out sustainable ideas to bridge the gap of failure and negligence which the scheme has suffered in the past, rather than want to tamper with it. There’s no such establishment without flaws; perhaps, it’s our collective responsibility to plaster the leakage in our national system, and to live up to expectations.

The orientation course is to familiarize corps members with the environment in their place of posting, toughen and prepare corps members physically for the task ahead, equip them with practical, social and leadership skills that will enable them with the challenges of the service year and the nation in future.

By the time the orientation course is suspended as recommended by the Osinbajo-led committee, none of the aforementioned objectives of the orientation course will be carried out, and corps members will be directly mobilized to their place of primary assignment, without basic knowledge of where they are being deployed to — of their culture, religion and differences.

The federal government and national stakeholders must not allow this to happen. If it does happen, we have directly bowed to the sustained the criticism of those Nigerians who see the scheme as total waste of time and a way of sending Nigerian graduates to meet their demise.

Abdulganeey Abiola Adeyemi,

Ilorin, Kwara State.

The Economic Sustainability Committee (ESC) led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on the federal government to consider suspending the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp exercises for two years.

In its report presented to President Muhammadu Buhari last week and seen by TheCable, the committee recommended the consideration of suspension of NYSC camps for 24 months.

“The immediate focus in the Education sector is to address the disruptions caused by the pandemic and ensuing social distancing measures at all levels of education,” the report read.

“Practical steps will be taken to minimise disruption to learning, utilising technology as appropriate. Specifically, virtual learning will be implemented (either online or through broadcast), virtual convocation ceremonies or issuance of certificates (with postponed ceremonies) should be implemented to continue educational progression.

“In similar context, consideration will be given to suspending the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp Exercises for at least 24 months while allowing deployment to places of primary assignment.

“This will ensure that there is no backlog in the National Service placement pipeline.”

In March, NYSC camps were shut following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Nigeria.

A statement released by NYSC at the time said “the corps members shall be posted to commence their primary assignments forthwith, while they shall be invited back to the orientation camps when the situation improves”.

Only last week, the scheme submitted a proposal for reopening of its camps nationwide.

It is unclear if the federal government will take this portion of the Economic Sustainability Committee’s recommendation.

To me, i don’t think NYSC can suspend orientation camp ….The role the orientation camp plays in a corps member is very crucial and the Nysc officials understand this.