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NYSC DG wants Trust Fund For Corps Members

Published

4 years ago

December 4, 2021

The Director -General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim has reiterated the need for the establishment of a trust fund for provision of start-up capital for corps members to advance their business ideas and grow the Nigerian economy.

Ibrahim made the call in Sagamu, Ogun State while inaugurating a skill acquisition centre at the NYSC orientation camp.

The centre was donated to NYSC by the office of Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The NYSC boss recalled that the scheme had introduced Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) for corps members in 2012, when it realised that white collar jobs were no longer available for graduates.

While commending the SDGs office for the gesture, Ibrahim urged the Federal government to set up an NYSC trust fund to provide start-up capital for corp members who might want to develop the entrepreneurial skills acquired during their service years.

Ibrahim, while stating that the scheme would continue to be responsible and responsive to the development of the corps members, added that the role of entrepreneurship and skill acquisition could not be over-emphasised in the growth of the nation’s economy.

He also called for the replication of the centre in other geo-political zones, as part of efforts to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country.

Ibrahim assured that NYSC would maintain the centre by keeping it in good shape.

The NYSC Coordinator in Ogun, Mrs Belinda Faniyi said that the centre would equip the corps members with the fundamental skills needed in the business world and make them wealth creators and self-reliant.

Faniyi listed the skills to be learnt at the centre to include: bread making, fashion designing, cosmetology as well as food processing and preservation.

Others, according to her, are farming (agro-allied), make-ups and head-ties as well as film and photography.

She said that the idea of the centre began when the SSA to the President on SDGs, Mrs Adejoke Adefulire, visited the orientation camp in December 2020 to sensitise the corps members.

“I strongly appealed to her to assist in the construction of a SAED centre within the camp for our corp members who might want to come in after the camp for the post-camp training and community development services.

“It is with great joy that I humbly state here that she has not only constructed the building, she has also adequately equipped it.

“She has equipped the centre with state-of -the-art and ultra-modern equipment, including 50 desktop flat screen computer sets and accessories, with tables and chairs.

“She also provided 100 sewing machines, with tables and chairs, and wheel balancing and alignment machines,” she said.

“Definitely, NYSC in Ogun will be the first nationwide to have an e-library, archives and museum in the orientation camp.

“The positive impacts of this facility on the corps members and the public will remain unquantifiable,” she said

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

7 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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