FG to unveil comprehensive national youth empowerment programme – Buhari

The Federal Government said in Abuja on Thursday that it would soon unveil a comprehensive National Youth Empowerment Programme anchored on the model provided by the NYSC scheme.

President Muhammadu Buhari made this known at the swearing-in of the 2015 Batch A, Stream II Corps members.

Buhari was represented by Mr John Chukwu, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory.

. Cue in audio 1

“As we have promised Nigerians, my administration will soon unveil a comprehensive National Youth Empowerment Programme anchored on the model provided by the NYSC scheme.

“Our goal is to comprehensively address youth unemployment, insecurity and other social vices prevalent among our youths.

“As a globally recognised scheme, the roles of corps members as change agents will be properly articulated and harnessed for the benefit of our citizens across the country.’’

. Cue out audio 1

Buhari said that the current situation in the country called for unity, commitment and hard work to accelerate the country’s development.

He charged the corps members to make useful contributions to the cause of national development as well as take the advantage of the youth empowerment scheme by government and NGOs for self-sustenance.

. Cue in audio 2

“You must avoid indulging in crimes and other negative vices that would impede the collective efforts to move the nation forward.

“For too long, our quest for peace and progress has been disrupted and frustrated by social ills, many of them perpetrated by young people.

“Let me assure you all that change for us is not just a political slogan, it is the dawn of the new order, sought for by majority of our people.’’

. Cue out audio 2

The president assured Nigerians that the fight against insurgency and terrorism would be more decisive and purposeful.

He restated the commitment of his administration to quickly restore peace in the areas affected by the insurgency.

The president also renewed his resolve to guarantee the security of lives and property of every Nigeria, including corps members.

Buhari commended the management of the scheme for its “NYSC Hope Alive Programme (NYSC-HAP)’’ initiative.

“This initiative, which is aimed at giving succour and hope to corps members who become disabled or incapacitated during the service year, is indeed laudable.

“I therefore use this opportunity to state that no Nigerian who suffers any form of incapacitation while in service to this great country will be abandoned,’’ he said.

In his remarks, Mr Alao Olanipekun, the FCT Camp Coordinator, advised the corps members to exhibit good conduct, saying that leadership training programmes had been included to empower and build them to become better ambassadors.

He said the exercise would end on June 22 and urged Nigerians not to reject any corps member that would be posted to them to serve their fathers land.

Fielding questions from newsmen in his capacity as the permanent secretary, Chukwu said FCT had always had the highest number of corps members.

On the NYSC permanent site, he said that the land had been acquired and designs done, adding that some funds for the purpose had been earmarked in the NYSC 2015 budget.

“We put some little money in the budget and once we get the approval, we will commence the ground breaking this year,’’ he said.