Lagos – A UN Peace Ambassador, Mr Olaniyi Sogo, has advised National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to develop themselves in some skills to become employers of labour after their service year.
Sogo gave the advice on Tuesday in Lagos while speaking at a one-day Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme for 2015/2016 Batch ‘B’ corps members at NYSC Orientation Camp, Iyana-Ipaja.
He charged them to set for themselves, achievable and useable targets.
He said that research had shown that many youths had resorted to acquiring certificates after their first degree out of frustration and desperation.
Sogo, an entrepreneur, said that a lot of youths were confused about what to do after NYSC, because they failed to acquire a skill during the one year service period.
“The period of NYSC is to prepare you outside all that you have learnt in school; it is a time to rediscover your passion, talent and skill.
“Do not dwell on your certificate because in present Nigeria, certificate will not put food on your table but your skills and talents will open doors for you.
“Opportunities come every day, but how prepared are you to maximise it. There are no job securities anywhere, than your skills and the trade you have mastered.
“Corps members should have a plan on how they will spend the next one year after the service,’’ he said.
Mr Cyril Akhanemhe, Lagos State Coordinator of NYSC, said that corps members must acquire skills before they could benefit from the loan facility initiated by the scheme.
Akhanemhe said that the corps was in partnership with Bank of Industry, adding that it had setup platform to provide loans for existing and out-gone corps members.
According to him, corps members must learn a skill and become useful instead of relying on their parents, spouses and relatives for financial support after the scheme.
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“The nation is moving towards skill acquisition; corps members, too, must position their minds and learn a skill.
“There is no job out there; you have to become your own boss by utilising your youthful strength now and learn a trade.
“We will not accept any excuse from you in the camp because there are many opportunities waiting out there for you.
“We have brought in many experts and entrepreneurs in agriculture, fashion designing, catering, beads making, forex trading, event decoration, wedding planning, real estate, cinematography and photography, to train you.
“There are a lot of opportunities for you to apply for a loan from N250, 000 and above from the bank. We have given you the link to explore and apply after acquiring a skill,’’ he said.
In her reaction, Mrs Gift Igwe, a corps member, said commended organisers of the programme, saying that it was very educative and provided platform for corps members to interact with experts.
“I am happy with this lecture, it is an eye opener for us; it will provide direction for many of us after the service year,’’ Igwe said.
Another corps member, Mr Femi Adeniyi, urged Federal Government to make the loan facility easily accessible. (NAN)