News
World Bank to Partner NYSC On Corps Empowerment
Joel Ajayi
In it’s efforts towards reducing the increasing number of unemployed youths in the country, the World Bank has indicated interest to partner with the National Youth Service Corps.
It said the Scheme’s achievements over the past fifty-one years, through the deployment of graduate youths across the country has transformed the development landscape of many rural areas.
The Country Director of World Bank, Ndiame Diop, stated this on Tuesday when he led a team on a courtesy visit to the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja,
He stated further that Corps Members’ efforts in national unity, cohesion and socio-economic development of the country cannot be underestimated.
He lauded the successive batches of Corps Members for reducing the infant and maternal mortality rates in the country.
“The World Bank is interested in supporting NYSC on its developmental strides”, he added.
In his remarks, the Director General of National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General YD Ahmed lauded the existing synergy between the Scheme and World Bank which has enhanced staff capacity building.
He said Corps Members have tremendously participated in several National assignments like election, population census, sensitization programmes, immunization etc at different times, adding that; “Corps Members are available in all the 774 Local Government Areas in the country”.
The Director General also disclosed that NYSC introduced Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development into its Orientation Course in year 2012 in order to empower Corps Members with vocational skills that can make them employers of labour.
He said more than Two Million Corps Members have participated in the Skill Acquisition training, while about 600,000 among them have set up their thriving businesses in different locations across the country.
General Ahmed added that Management has partnered with many organizations like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bank of Industry (BoI), Access Bank, Unity Bank, Wema Bank, NNPC Foundation among others, which offer loans to Corps Members to start their businesses.
He however disclosed that some Orientation Camps do not have standard Skill Acquisition Training Centres while the start-up capital for Corps Members is also grossly inadequate.
“If the World Bank partners with us, we will be better in what we are doing to reduce youth unemployment”, the DG added.
Foreign news
Algeria’s Glorious Revolution: Embassy Marks 72nd Anniversary in Abuja
Joel Ajayi
The Embassy of Algeria in Nigeria has commemorated the 72nd anniversary of the country’s Glorious Revolution of November 1, 1954, with a reception in Abuja, highlighting Algeria’s liberation struggle and strengthening diplomatic relations with Nigeria.
The event, held on November 9, 2026, at Continental Suites Hotel, attracted prominent personalities, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, members of the Federal Government, senior government officials, heads of diplomatic missions and other friends of Algeria.
Speaking at the reception, Algeria’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Hocine Mezoued, welcomed guests and paid tribute to the country’s freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives during the struggle for independence.
He described the November 1, 1954 revolution as the foundation of modern Algeria, noting that the sacrifices of the nation’s martyrs made it possible for the country to reclaim its sovereignty.
On Algeria’s development agenda, Mezoued said President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s administration had continued to pursue economic reforms, diversification and national development under its New Algeria vision.
He noted that the country was recording progress in non-hydrocarbon exports, while improvements in the business environment had boosted investor confidence and attracted significant foreign investments.
On foreign policy, the ambassador reaffirmed Algeria’s commitment to non-interference, respect for national sovereignty, peaceful conflict resolution and the right of peoples to self-determination.
Addressing security challenges in the Sahel, he stressed that lasting peace could not be achieved through military measures alone, insisting that economic development, inclusive dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes remained essential.
Turning to Nigeria-Algeria relations, Mezoued described the partnership as one founded on shared values and the commitment of both countries’ leaders to advancing African development.
He identified the Trans-Saharan Highway, Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and Trans-Saharan Fibre Optic Backbone as major strategic projects receiving attention from both countries.
The ambassador also disclosed that Algeria had continued to provide scholarships to Nigerian students to strengthen human capital development and capacity building.
He further announced that Air Algérie expanded its Nigerian operations on October 26, 2026, with the introduction of two weekly flights to Lagos, expressing confidence that the service would boost trade and tourism.
Looking ahead, Mezoued said 2027 would offer fresh opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly through the fifth Joint High Bi-National Commission scheduled to hold in Abuja.
He expressed optimism that the meeting would provide an opportunity to assess existing partnerships, identify new areas of cooperation and move Nigeria-Algeria relations towards a more practical and results-driven phase.
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