News
NYSC At 50: Programme Has Kept Faith With Its Mandate- Youth Minister
The Youth Minister, Sunday Dare says the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) scheme has kept faith with its objectives and mandate and therefore sustained its relevance in the country’s development.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 50th anniversary of the scheme in Abuja on Monday, the Minister also described it as the leading youth organisation in Africa, celebrating the ingenuity of the leaders who bequeathed the programme to Nigeria and those whose unwavering commitment have led to its sustenance.
According to him, “the hindsight of past Presidents and Heads of States has nurtured this scheme despite the odds that have threatened its existence.”
The Youth Minister applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his contributions to the NYSC and thanked him for the privilege to serve as the Minister of Youth and Sports Development at this time that scheme is marking its golden jubilee.
Dare challenged the leadership of the programme to see the 50th anniversary celebrations as a veritable opportunity to evolve strategies to strengthen the scheme, make it more sustainable, broaden its scope of operations to enhance its contributions to national development.
In his words, “since inception 50 years ago, the NYSC has kept faith with its objectives and mandate. It has made invaluable impact in various aspects of national development, including providing healthcare to rural communities and also made legendary contributions to education and rural infrastructure.
“There have been acts of resourcefulness and benevolence, and the nation witnessed remarkable ingenuity from Youth Corps members during the COVID 19 pandemic and before then during the Ebola virus and HIV/AIDS pandemic.
“Indeed the NYSC in the 50 years of existence has become an institution to reckon with in youth empowerment and mobilisation for national development.”
The NYSC 50th anniversary opening ceremony was graced by the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Ambassador Fatima Balla Abubakar, the chairman of the NYSC governing board and the Director General, Brigadier General YD Ahmed among others.
Professor Attahiru Jega was the guest speaker at the event.
NYSC At 50: Programme Has Kept Faith With Its Mandate – MiniDare
The Youth Minister, Sunday Dare says the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) scheme has kept faith with its objectives and mandate and therefore sustained its relevance in the country’s development.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 50th anniversary of the scheme in Abuja on Monday, the Minister also described it as the leading youth organisation in Africa, celebrating the ingenuity of the leaders who bequeathed the programme to Nigeria and those whose unwavering commitment have led to its sustenance.
According to him, “the hindsight of past Presidents and Heads of States has nurtured this scheme despite the odds that have threatened its existence.”
The Youth Minister applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his contributions to the NYSC and thanked him for the privilege to serve as the Minister of Youth and Sports Development at this time that scheme is marking its golden jubilee.
Dare challenged the leadership of the programme to see the 50th anniversary celebrations as a veritable opportunity to evolve strategies to strengthen the scheme, make it more sustainable, broaden its scope of operations to enhance its contributions to national development.
In his words, “since inception 50 years ago, the NYSC has kept faith with its objectives and mandate. It has made invaluable impact in various aspects of national development, including providing healthcare to rural communities and also made legendary contributions to education and rural infrastructure.
“There have been acts of resourcefulness and benevolence, and the nation witnessed remarkable ingenuity from Youth Corps members during the COVID 19 pandemic and before then during the Ebola virus and HIV/AIDS pandemic.
“Indeed the NYSC in the 50 years of existence has become an institution to reckon with in youth empowerment and mobilisation for national development.”
The NYSC 50th anniversary opening ceremony was graced by the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Ambassador Fatima Balla Abubakar, the chairman of the NYSC governing board and the Director General, Brigadier General YD Ahmed among others.
Professor Attahiru Jega was the guest speaker at the event.
News
AWESSA 2026: Customs Assures Border Cooperation for Women Entrepreneurs
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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