By Stellamaries Amuwa, Abuja
The United Republic of Tanzania has expressed its desire to understudy the activities, programmes, achievements and challenges of Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps Scheme and replicate the same in Tanzania.
Deputy High Commissioner and Charge D’affaire of Tanzania High Commission, Her Excellency, Judica Nagunwa stated this when she paid a courtesy visit to the Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General YD Ahmed at the National Directorate Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
She said Tanzania National Service programme which started in 1963 is for both volunteers and compulsory participants, but added that there are many viable programmes in NYSC that are yet to be replicated in her country.
She commended NYSC’s contributions to national development, adding that; “We think there is the need to come and learn from you. We have come to study the structure of NYSC and see how it can assist us in vocational training, youth empowerment, wealth production and security”.
In his response, the NYSC Director General, Brigadier General YD Ahmed said the Scheme which was established more than fifty-one years ago is one year compulsory national service programme for graduates below the age of thirty.
He added that through NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development training programme, millions of Corps Members have acquired vocational skills that has made them employers of labour in different locations across Nigeria.
The DG disclosed that NYSC has undergone many changes with the exigencies of time to make it responsive to national needs. He disclosed further that the main objective of establishing NYSC was to foster national unity and integration after the 30-month old Nigerian Civil War. He informed the Tanzanian delegate that the tripartite responsibilities of the Scheme is borne by the Federal, State and Local Governments.
“We are into collaboration with many organizations that offer business grants to Corps Members so as to help them establish their businesses. More than five million youths have passed through the Scheme from inception till date”, the DG said.
