Emmanuel Onwubiko: NYSC DG and the national youths job

This writer will resist the near-irresistible temptation to sound scriptural since this piece is not about a Reverend Father in one corner of the world however about someone whose direction from the President of his nation is to make substantial modifications towards positive instructions for the 48 year old nationwide organization referred to as the National Youth Service Corps plan (NYSC)-Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim.

I discussed withstanding a temptation to sound like someone composing on doctrinal matters because the title of this piece owes its etymology from a extremely revered and venerated religious icon that commands the adulation and worship of billions of individuals around the world.

Looking at the title from a holistic viewpoint, the image that emerges in our subconscious is the yearning by a leader for crucial appraisal and assessment from his close lieutenants concerning the basic views about his personal life and activities.

In the school of management, what contributes significantly to reaching success is the inclination by the leader to ascertain just what people consider him/her and the impacts made or being made as a result of the execution of his/her jobs.

This is called FEEDBACK system and even in the media market, newspapers and relaying homes have area and time for their audiences to feed them back on their opinions worrying quality assurance or absence of it in the works of those media houses. Simply put, media homes such as newspapers usually concede a page which they dedicate to people’s opinions and letters to the editor.

In this reflection we will do some contents analysis of what the media has in the last two years discussed the individual of the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps Major General Shu’aibu Ibrahim who simply got raised in his expert rank from his hitherto rank of Brigadier General to a Major General which in the military circles is considered as a reward for excellence, benefit and skills because military promotions are performance and benefit based.

There is practically no provision for Godfather influences to the very best of my knowledge.

For the last two weeks that this gentleman of the military profession got elevated, there have been an outpouring of goodwill messages and applauds from even unexpected quarters.

I said unexpected since it is normally understood that prophets are often not appreciated and commemorated in their home towns actually but in the case of the Director General of the NYSC Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim, it would seem that the basic guideline was suspended and his own individuals of Nasarawa State and his main constituency the military have actually celebrated him and have made it generously clear that they take pride in the modest achievements he has made in the NYSC specifically and in virtually all of his career history.

From his main constituency, the Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Major General IM Yusuf commended the NYSC Director-General, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim for his giant strides in the Scheme.

He made the commendation today when he played host to the Director-General, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

Describing Ibrahim as a source of pride to the Nigerian Armed Forces, he said that his achievements in NYSC were consistent with the qualities of hard work, altruism, dynamism and devotion, which he demonstrated in his previous consultations.

General Yusuf recalled the Director-General’s contributions to the success of the NDA, especially as Head of History and War Studies Department as well as TETFUND Desk Officer.

He kept in mind Ibrahim’s leading roles in securing accreditation for courses of the History and War Studies Department, including: “It was to his credit that NDA hosted a conference of the Historical Society of Nigeria for the very first time,” he included.

He stated his achievements in NYSC did not come as a surprise given his recognized requirement of performance.

The Commandant congratulated Ibrahim on his promo to the rank of Major General, explaining it as well should have.

He said the Academy would continue to support the Scheme, specifically in the location of Corps Welfare.

Earlier, the Director-General, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim, thanked the Commandant for the mentorship he enjoyed from him, explaining him as a pureblood senior officer.

He expressed gratitude of the support NDA had actually been encompassing NYSC, particularly as one of the biggest Corps employers.

Ibrahim particularly thanked the Commandant for prioritising the well-being of Corps members, including provision of lodging and feeding for them while on transit.

He assured that the Corps Members would continue to put in their finest in the service of the fatherland.

From his State, the Governor of Nasarawa State Abdullahi Sule explained the just recently promoted Director General of the National Youth Service Corps Major General Shu’aibu Ibrahim as a worthwhile ambassador of Nasarawa individuals for his tactical role in redefining the operations of the NYSC Scheme as a catalyst of advancement.

He stated his achievements were testified by the Founding dad of the NYSC General Yakubu Gowon and lots of State Governors who appreciated his impactful management in reinventing the NYSC and making it more relevant.

Sule, an Engineer was a Special Guest of Honour during the GRAND reception arranged in honour of the NYSC DG for his elevation to the rank of a Major General in the Nigerian Army.

He paid glowing tribute to General Shu’aibu, and confessed that the DG strove to deserve his elevation specifically in the location of empowering corps members through Skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development, reinvigoration of NYSC ventures and guaranteeing arrangement of an extensive documentation of NYSC activities and interventions in national development program.

“I’m a happy Governor due to the fact that every state you go, the Governor will speak eloquently about the method you have redefined the Youth Service Corps in his state. You came, you saw and you have actually redefined the NYSC through many interventions which you primarily created” the Governor mentioned.

Speaking even more, Sule commended the new policy drive of the NYSC targeted at empowering corps members through

acquisition of abilities for self-employment which he stated is the best option out of the issue of unemployment for our bristling graduate youths.

In their separate goodwill messages, the Emir of Keffi Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa and House of Representatives member representing Nasarawa Toto Federal Constituency in Nasarawa State, Honourable Ari Mohammed Abdulmumini revealed pleasure at the unprecedented accomplishments taped by General Shu’aibu which earned him succeeding promos approximately Major General specifically his various achievements in the NYSC Scheme.

They both said Nasarawa state individuals are proud to be related to his uncommon achievements and wish him more success in future.

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, represented by his Permanent Secretary Alh Isma’ila Abubakar applauded the Director General for supplying the needed leadership which motivated personnel to support him in achieving the successess taped. He advised him not to relent in his efforts to additional elevate the NYSC Sheme to greater heights.

In her remarks on behalf of NYSC Staff and Corps members nationwide, the Director, Information and Communication Technology, (ICT) Mrs Christy Uba specified the achievements of General Shu’aibu to consist of among others; maximum utilisation of the capacities of corps members, reinvigoration of NYSC Ventures and Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship (SAED) program, enforcement of a reliable mobilization procedure, documents of NYSC activities, improvement of staff and Corps welfare, arrangement of ICT Centre, proposed NYSC Radio to name a few.

Responding thereafter, General Shu’aibu thanked God for His grace in his successive elevation in the Military and appreciated the Governor of Nasarawa State, Community Leaders, Staff and Corps members for the uncommon honour.

The NYSC Director General revealed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for discovering him deserving to be so selected as the Chief Executive of the NYSC Scheme. He similarly appreciated the Minister of Defence and Chief of Army Staff for thinking in his capability and their recommendation of his promo to the rank of a Major General after making a steady elevation in the last 28 years of his profession.

The DG further mentioned that his concepts in life is targeted towards touching pledges and lives to devote his life in furtherance of this approach.

“All I have actually attained in life was as a result of prayers of those I have actually discovered in the course of my life”, he specified.

He applauded various stakeholders of the Scheme for their support and called on them to sustain their advocacy for the success of the proposed NYSC Trust Fund which aims at empowering youth Corps members and dealing with infrastructural challenge of the Scheme.

The Director-General has actually likewise got direct commendation from his erstwhile department where he headed before he got appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari to reorganise, reshape, renew the NYSC which he has up until now made impressive and considerable evolutionary accomplishments.

As mentioned earlier, the Department of History and War Studies of the Nigerian Defence Academy had actually hosted the NYSC Director-General, Shuaibu Ibrahim, to a reception in event of his promo to the rank of Major General.

Speaking on the occasion, the Head of Department, Associate Professor Victor Akran, revealed gratitude of the Director-General’s sustained enthusiasm for the Department and the whole NDA.

He recalled the different feats accomplished by Ibrahim as Head of the Department, and revealed gratitude to him for staying encouraging.

The HOD praised the Director-General on his promotion and hoped God to continue to elevate him.

Reacting, the Director-General recollected on the cordial working relationship he enjoyed with all Staff of the Department noting that, that added to the successes tape-recorded.

He thanked them for honouring him, and ensured that the relationship would continue to be reinforced.

The Director-General also utilized the occasion to eulogize the NYSC family for providing him all the needed assistance leading to his success as helmsman of the Scheme. Still from the academic community came a myriad of commendations for the Director-General of NYSC.

The Management of Federal University Lokoja joined the league of eminent Nigerians to praise the NYSC Director-General on his elevation to the new rank of Major General in the Nigeran Army.

The Institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, who led a delegation from the organization to provide the congratulatory message to Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim in his office in Abuja this previous week, said the University is delighted to associate with the landmark achievements recorded by the DG since he presumed task in NYSC.

He canvassed assistance for the connection of the NYSC Scheme especially the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development program, including that SAED has empowered a great deal of graduate youths to end up being self reliant.

The wear, who communicated his service year experiences included that, “We are proud of what you and your group are doing. NYSC needs to be safeguarded due to the fact that it is for the unity of the country.”

In his action, the NYSC Director-General, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim praised the Vice-Chancellor on his visit and likewise admired him for the congratulatory see.

He included that NYSC has actually been interfacing with appropriate organizations like the National Universities Commission (NUC), Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), to name a few to inject more peace of mind into the mobilisation procedure of qualified graduates for national service.

Major General Ibrahim said there was the need to examine the school curriculum and present Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development as it would expose students to vocational skills prior to they finish.

He stated the Scheme has actually partnered lots of institutions like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bank of Industry (BoI) Access Bank, Heritage Bank, Leventis Foundation and other farming organizations like NALDA and ARMTI towards training and empowerment of Corps Members that have enthusiasm for agriculture.

The DG included that efforts are on top equipment for the establishment of NYSC Trust Fund which will make funds offered to Corps Members to start their services as they leave service.

He stated the proposed Trust Fund would likewise make it possible for improved upkeep of Orientation Camp centers and NYSC Skill Acquisition Centres throughout the nation.

“We advise the Federal University Lokoja and other stakeholders to support us in youth empowerment”, the DG added.

During the check out, the Director-General led the University group on a trip of the NYSC Museum and NYSC Radio Studio, both at the National Directorate Headquarters Abuja.

In a comparable development, the Abuja Zonal Head of TAJ Bank, Mellisa Adesina today led a delegation from the bank to congratulate Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim on his current elevation.

She stated the bank is dealing with a modality to partner NYSC on Entrepreneurship Training for Corps Members and likewise contribute its quota to nationwide advancement.

General Ibrahim valued the bank and assured the Scheme’s preparedness to enhance SAED programme and decrease unemployment in the country. We will partner with you”, he stated.

Around March 5, 2020 almost a complete year before he got promoted, the DG made a remark to corpers that goes to specify his enthusiasm for seeing that the youths are economically empowered to base on their own after the obligatory one year nationwide service.

General Shaibu Ibrahim, had actually advised the outbound corps members to embrace credit facilities to save the frustration of searching endlessly for scarce tasks.

This was contained in his goodbye speech at the losing consciousness parade of the 2019 Batch A corps members at the old parade ground in Abuja on Thursday.

Ibrahim saluted the patriotic spirit and commended the efforts of the corps members throughout their service year and also acknowledged that they have positively affected the socio-economic wellness of the host communities.

“Indeed, Nigerians deeply value your contributions to the national development process, specifically in the locations of education, healthcare facilities, agriculture and shipment in addition to the uncommon patriotism and diligence showed in the discharge of your responsibilities in your particular host communities,” he said.

The NYSC DG said the corps members excellent selfless service rendered at the location of their main project and community developments efforts are truly worthwhile of commendation.

“Your affinity to your host communities during your primary projects should similarly form the basis of life-long friendships, national unity and combination, which is the significant factor for developing the NYSC Scheme.

“My dear compatriots, the end of the service year represents a crucial period in the life of every Corps Member. It marks the end of a phase of reliance on the federal government, moms and dads and guardians for maintenance. It is a period when those who have imbibed the lessons of the service year are ready to check out and conquer the larger world,” Ibrahim said.

He included that the passing out corps members have actually been sufficiently geared up for the future with their exposure to the truths of life throughout their national task.

“It is now time to use the lessons learnt from the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurial Training to make the right choices for your future.

“I advise you likewise to avoid negative tendencies and other social vices. Provided your level of education and reinforced by the experience of the service year, you should stay focused, resolute and positive in your ability to make a good living from genuine and sincere endeavours,” he said.

He, for that reason, wanted all the corps members safe journey to their various locations and also implored them to be security mindful as they traveled.

“It is my impassioned prayer that the Almighty God will continually guide and safeguard you. I want you well in your future endeavours,” he concluded.

Have you now understood who individuals say the Director-General of NYSC is? Now here are bits of some factors for these praises.

With no shadow of doubts, the DG of NYSC said the plan remitted over N1 billion into the federation account in between 2020 and 2021.

Ibrahim stated the money was created from various service efforts developed by the NYSC.

He informed Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Tijjani Bande who paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja just recently.

“… in an unmatched feat, the Scheme remitted over one billion Naira produced as earnings from its various ventures to the federal account in between 2020 and 2021,” he said in a declaration issued by the scheme’s Deputy Director Press and Public Relations Emeka Mgbemena.

Findings show that the NYSC Ventures were produced in 2012 as training and mentoring platforms for corps members thinking about entrepreneurship development. Funds and initiatives created through the endeavors are anticipated to contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Ventures Department likewise produces corps members’ sets and other materials to orientation camps across the country. They include NYSC Garment Factories situated in Minna, Niger State; and Mgbaku, Anambra State.

The NYSC Rice Mill in Ezillo; NYSC Bakery and Water Factory, Kubwa, Abuja; NYSC Feed Mill in lpaja, Lagos State; NYSC Entertainment Company Limited, which comprises the NYSC Nationa! Band, NYSC National Troupe and the NYSC Movie, are all signed up.

Also, there are also NYSC Farms in Kwali, FCT, and Saminaka, Kebbi State.

In a bid to boost trustworthiness of the mobilisation procedure and secure the country’s education system, the DG revealed it held separate conferences with corps producing institutions based in some African nations, including pertinent Nigerian regulatory and expert bodies.

Through public sensitisation, production and circulation of face masks, hand sanitisers and liquid soap, Ibrahim also determined some COVID-19 preventive intervention procedures deployed by the corps members.

Other accomplishments listed by the DG were the completion of NYSC North-West and South-West zonal ability acquisition centres, the commencement of deal with the centre for the North-Central; publication of 9 books on the accomplishments of the scheme; the establishment of a museum; the procedure of establishing the NYSC Radio, and the building and construction of NYSC Printing Press in Kaduna State.

Previously, Bande had actually applauded the scheme, describing it as a well-thought-out initiative for youth engagement in the country.

He worried that matters of youth development were main to the development of any nation, adding that Nigeria had, through the NYSC, showed acknowledgment of youths as crucial assets.

The diplomat, who kept in mind that the scheme had expanded the knowledge of youths about the country and instilled patriotic zeal in them, likewise expressed pleasure at its existing concentrate on the empowerment of corps members for self-employment.

He applauded Ibrahim for his accomplishments because taking workplace as chief executive of the plan.

To respond to the concern, I believe it is appropriate to say that individuals say the Director-General of NYSC Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim is a charming leader who has enthusiasm for building legacies that will make transformational modifications in Nigeria and the World at big.

EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO is head of the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA and was National Commissioner at the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission.