Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have been urged to think beyond their educational qualifications and acquire technical and vocational skills that would make them self- employed and contribute positively to national development.
Mrs. Amosun, said this while flagging off the 2012 Batch ‘C’ Sensitization Workshop on Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development held at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Sagamu on the 16th of November, 2012.
Mrs. Amosun stressed the need for every individual to develop their God-given talents for self-actualization and fulfillment, saying that the eras of white collar jobs were gone and it was pertinent for youths to acquire vocational skills in order to be creative and productive in the society.
As an advocate of vocation skills acquisition, I believe we can reduce the rate of post-NYSC unemployment in our society and make our young graduates entrepreneurs and employers of labor. Whatever your course of study, a hands-on practical knowledge will be an added advantage for you to excel in your chosen field.” The Wife of the Governor commended the authorities of NYSC for taking up the challenge of exposing the youths to skills training and entrepreneurship as a way of encouraging wealth creation in the state and the country at large, imploring corps members to register and participate in any laudable skills acquisition programmes packaged for them at the orientation camp.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Gbenga Otenuga noted that the goal of the skills acquisition programme was to contribute to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goal (MDGs) – which was aimed at eradicating poverty and hunger and the transformation agenda of the present administration in the State. He added that since the establishment of National Youth Service Corps, the scheme had put in place concrete and practical steps towards building capacity for teeming youths for self-employment rather than seeking the non-existing white collar jobs.
Also speaking, the State Coordinator NYSC, Barr. Isioma Anosike said the National Youth Service Corps recently introduced the skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development into the scheme to enable fresh graduates of tertiary institutions acquire skills of their choice with the view to making them self reliant. She appreciated the support of the State Government and the Wife of the Former Governor for uplifting the lives of the less privileged in the society especially through her uplift projects, appealing that a vocational training center should be located in Abeokuta where corps members could train.
The Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief (Mrs.) Alaba Lawson noted that the initiative of the Federal Government to train corps members on vocational skills acquisition was a stepping stone to developing entrepreneurship in the country, advising youths to set goals for themselves and pursue their vision until they achieve their aims in life.
