In a bid to make the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) more effective, the federal government has unveiled a plan to implement an internship program within the NYSC to improve the practical skills and employability of young individuals, aiming to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world work experience.
Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, shared this initiative during the launch of a $50 billion fundraising program for the construction of a World Youth Peace Centre organized by the West African Youth Peace Mission (WAYPEM) in Abuja.
According to Olawande, the internship program will seamlessly integrate into the existing NYSC structure, offering corps members hands-on experience in various industries and equipping them with relevant skills for the contemporary workforce.
The minister, represented by Chief of Staff Mohammed Abdullahi, explained that the purpose behind the initiative is to deploy graduates of professional courses to environments where their specific skills can be enhanced during their service year, giving them a competitive edge in the labor market afterward.
Additionally, the minister announced the upcoming inauguration of a technical committee on youth development within the next few weeks, focusing on skills development for Nigerian youths. He outlined the “One Youth, Two Skills” initiative set to launch in the first quarter of the coming year.
Furthermore, the minister stated that a redesign of the NYSC scheme is planned for the second quarter of the next year, with a renewed emphasis on delivering practical skills. He expressed dissatisfaction with the current Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme (SAED) in the NYSC, noting that it has not yielded the desired results, as not everyone is inclined towards entrepreneurship.
WAYPEM President, Dr. Godswill Richman, highlighted that the construction of the peace center in Abuja would generate over 40,000 local jobs for the youth, aligning with the mission’s goal to address the “Japa Syndrome.” The envisioned commercial complex of the center will include a modern specialist university, banking hall, event center, multi-purpose training facilities for youths and women, administrative offices, and staff quarters.
