Gombe Corps members laud D-G’s initiative on skills acquisition

Corps members serving in Gombe State have lauded the initiatives of Brig-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, Director General of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) in equipping them with skills that would enable them become self-reliant after their service year.

Some of them who spoke to our reporter on Friday in Gombe, said they were particularly happy with the decision to establish Skills Acquisition and Vocational Centres in each of the six geo-political zones of the country.

Mr Justin Nicholag, a Corps member, said that the initiative would enable them fulfill their desire to gainfully engage themselves, instead of roaming streets in search of white collar jobs that were not available.

He said they were trained in many trades during their orientation course at the camp, giving them the opportunity of knowing a lot that could help them in the future.

“Before now, I was thinking of graduating and securing a white collar job, but inside the camp, I was trained in so many trades which I have decided to venture into after my service year, especially the agro-allied field,” he said.

Miss Atigolo Timeyin, another corps member, also commended the D-G for establishing the projects in the country, adding that with such initiative, the NYSC scheme would have positive impact on the lives of Corps members after completion of service.

“I am very pleased that this development is unfolding during my time; with the skills acquired, we have option of gainfully ‘employing ourselves’ if there is nobody to employ us, especially now that white collar jobs are very scarce,” she said.

Also speaking to our reporter, Aishatu Gaya said the Skills Acquisition centres would contribute positively for them to be independent after service.

Gaya advised her colleagues to make the best use of the opportunity provided by being serious in learning trades.

In her contribution, Miss Comfort Samuel said that the D-G’s initiative would not only help Corps members, but also their parents and communities.

“Any serious Corps member should be able to pick something that he or she can rely on after the service year.

“By so doing, we will not become liabilities to our parents or relations or the society in general, after completing our service,” she said.

For Miss Elizabeth Christopher, “the idea will help the Corps members to be more creative than they used to be,” and therefore urged facilitators to be dedicated to the cause for the which the programme was introduced.

It was reported that on Thursday, Kauzaure inspected the NYSC Integrated Skills Acquisition and Vocational Centre for the North- East zone in Lafiawo town of Gombe state.