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NYSC @50: Don’t Relent in your effort towards promotion of Nigeria Unity, First Lady charges NYSC

Published

3 years ago

May 17, 2023

…Flags off Medical Outreach for Rural Dwellers

Joel Ajayi

The Wife of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Mrs Aisha Buhari has charged the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) not to leave any stone unturned towards the overall unity and progress of Nigeria.

She made this appeal on Tuesday, in Abuja, at the flag-off of special medical outreaches under the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD), organized as part of activities to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Scheme.

According to her, it is notable that the scheme has made enormous impact, especially among rural dwellers, which has continued to attract commendation from both within and outside the country.

“While I join millions of Nigerians in celebrating the NYSC at 50, I call on the Management of the Scheme as well as the Corps Members not to relent their efforts in promoting unity of the country by providing quality service delivery to the Nation irrespective of State or place of service.

“I have noted with great satisfaction, the giant strides of the Scheme through the provision of health care to Nigerians.

“The introduction of the HIRD programme has largely been successful. As part of my Office’s appreciation, the donation of a well-equipped mobile clinic to the Scheme is to enhance the success of the Corps Medical team. I am sure that this facility would continuously assist in this respect.

“I am optimistic that the commemoration of the five decades of NYSC’s existence, couple with the introduction the HIRD outreach, will further validate the argument for the continued relevance of the Scheme.”
On his remarked, the Director General of NYSC Brigadier General YD Ahmed revealed that over 3million Nigerians has benefited from scheme’s health put in place some years ago.

NYSC DG expressed that, since its establishment five decades ago, the National Youth Service Corps has remained an enduring platform for the mobilization of human and material resources for the actualization of the Nigeria of our dream.
According to him, the Scheme has long been a catalyst of our socio-cultural, political and economic development.

“Like other developing countries, Nigeria faces challenges in its health sector, but concerted efforts are being made by various stakeholders, including the NYSC, with a view to making the system more functional.

“As a Scheme that has continued to expand its frontiers in the delivery of services to Nigerians, NYSC launched its Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) programme in 2014. It is a platform through which Corps medical personnel comprising Doctors, Pharmacists, Nurses, and Dentists, amongst others, provide free and quality health care for the people, especially the rural poor.

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AWESSA 2026: Customs Assures Border Cooperation for Women Entrepreneurs

Published

1 day ago

October 25, 2026

The Gleamer

By James Samuel, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service has said the nation’s borders must become gateways of opportunity for African women entrepreneurs, not obstacles that kill their businesses.

This was disclosed at the African Women’s Economic Sovereignty Summit and Awards (AWESSA) 2026 held at the Customs House, corporate headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service in Abuja.

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, his representative, an Assistant Controller, said hosting the summit inside Customs premises was deliberate.

“That this summit holds within the Customs premises is no accident. It is a statement of intent,” he said.

“The border is where the promise of every African trader either comes alive or dies quietly. And the men and women of this Service have resolved that for every woman entrepreneur of this continent, that promise will never die.”

He said women account for an estimated 70% of informal cross-border trade in Africa and over half of agricultural labour, yet they face documentation, standards, finance and harassment challenges.

“Too often she meets the border as an obstacle rather than a gateway. Because she trades in small volumes, in cash, in informality without formal papers, capable business women are now trapped in informality, invisible to trade statistics,” he noted.

He added: “AfCFTA will not be delivered by treaties alone. It will be delivered at border posts, in conference halls, and in market stores.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, represented by a Director, said women are central to Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.

According to her, NEPC’s focus is now on building export- ready competitive enterprises through programmes like the Women in Export Initiative, Export Clinic, and Zero to Export.

“Our focus is no longer on encouraging exports alone, it is on building competitive export-ready enterprises. We are supporting women to move beyond production into value addition, quality assurance, standard compliance, branding and market positioning,” she said.

She said AfCFTA offers a market of over one billion people, but women need knowledge, certifications and institutional support.

“Empowering women economically is one of the most effective tools for achieving poverty reduction, food security, job creation and inclusive growth,” she stated.

The Convener, Helen Okon, who is the Publisher of Business Review Africa & Africa Today Magazine, as well as representatives of NAFDAC DG and NEXIM Bank MD, reaffirmed commitment to supporting women-owned businesses access standards, certification and finance.

The summit, with the theme of positioning women as drivers of trade and sustainable development, is part of activities marking the International Year of the Women Farmer.

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