Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has emphasized on the need for Nigerian graduates to acquire technical, vocational and entrepreneurial skills towards self-reliance.
Engineer Sule made the call while speaking as a special guest at the commissioning of the NYSC skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development centre, at the Magaji Dan Yamusa NYSC Orientation Camp, in Keffi, on Monday.
According to the Governor, the high turnover of graduates from institutions of higher learning across the country, made it imperative that Nigerian graduates acquire not only degrees but also skills that will make them self-reliant and employers of labour.
While commending the Director General and management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), for siting the project in Nasarawa State, he promised that his administration will not only patronise the products here but will find ways to work together the NYSC as team.
He said the inauguration of the skills and technical skills acquisition centre, was in line with the policy thrust of his administration, aimed at empowering youths with skills to make them self-reliant.
Engineer Sule expressed optimism that the inauguration of the skills acquisition centre couldn’t have come at a better time, with Olams Nigeria Limited investing USD100m in the vicinity of the centre.
He specifically commended the NYSC DG, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim, for the vision to redefine and reinvigorate the scheme and for turning the NYSC into a revenue generating facility for the federal government.
The Governor equally appreciated the first civilian governor of the state and national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, for his vision to establish the NYSC camp.
It would be recalled that only recently, President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Skills Acquisition Institute in Lafia, while on a two-day working visit to the state.
In a welcome address, the Director General of the NYSC, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim, said the inauguration of the North Central Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), as well as the NYSC bakery, water and garment factories, was in line with his cardinal policy thrust to reinvigorate the NYSC Ventures and SAED programme in order for the NYSC Act more impactful.
Earlier in a goodwill message, first civilian governor of the state, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, traced the establishment of the permanent NYSC camp in Keffi, to his desire to fulfil the objective for setting up the scheme.
Senator Adamu explained that he was motivated by the objective of setting up the NYSC, especially the need to integrate Nigerians.
The National Chairman of APC noted that, with the high turnover of graduates from higher institions of learning across the country, no government can be able to give every NYSC member job, stressing that there is every need for Nigerian graduates to acquire technical and vocational skills towards self-sufficiency.
