By Yashim Katurak
Abuja – Mr Abdulrazak Salawu, the NYSC FCT Coordinator, says the scheme has concluded plans to hold a trade fair to showcase and market various handcrafts made by corps members.
Salawu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday that the fair was part of efforts to key into the present administration’s economic recovery plans.
He said it was also to help solve the problem of unemployment in the country through the provision of enabling environment for corps members to showcase and sell their wares and handcrafts.
He said that the trade fair would resolve challenges faced by corps members in exhibiting the acquired training and skills while at the camp and during service year.
He said that the corps members received and developed these skills through the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme (SAED).
“We intend to carry out this venture as soon as we are able to put all modalities in place, hopefully in the next two months or sooner if we get the desired assistance. We need to kick start the project.
“If these corps members are producing various items and they do not receive the needed assistance and patronage, then they are going to be discouraged and the local economy will not be developed.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has directed us to make conscious effort to consume what we produce. Some of these corps members are into cosmetology, food processing, sewing, ceramic production, electrical engineering.
“If we are able to launch the various products produced by these corps members into the market and Nigerians begin to patronise them, then we will begin to have entrepreneurs and employers of labour among these youths.
“We need to find ways to help these corps members advertise their products and talents and by doing this, we hope the Nigerian economy can be developed,” Salawu said.
He said that SAED was introduced by the scheme bearing in mind the rate of unemployment worldwide.
Salawu added that the NYSC had continued to impart various skills on corps members in order to open the horizon of development opportunities to them.
”We are already in partnership with the Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture, Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
“I want to appeal to this group to come in vigorously to help address the issues and provide the needed support to these corps members.
“These corps members are our children and they are one of the agents that will help the nation see the end of the present recession.”
Salawu also charged media organisations to lend their support to the scheme to enable it achieve its target.
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