Going by the proposal at its top management retreat in Niger State, the National Youth Service Corps may consider deployment of corps members to the 16 member states of the Economic Community of West African States.
A lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Professor Oka Obono proposed the deployment of National Youth Corp members to West African countries to the NYSC top management during a retreat in Suleja while delivering his lecture titled; “Strategies for Sustaining the NYSC in a Changing World.”
Obono posited that the advantages of Nigerian corps members deployed across the West African sub-region would include the massive reduction in unemployment among the youths as well as regional exposure.
“Expand operations to the West African region thereby reducing internal graduate unemployment and reducing pressures on the Nigerian labour market,” Prof Obono told the NYSC management.
The don explained that inter-ethnic suspicion remains the bane of the country. He lauded the NYSC Director-General, Brig Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim for his leadership style since assuming duty as the 18th DG of NYSC.
He explained further that all stakeholders must adopt a high level of diplomacy and advocacy to impactfully absorb the unlearned youths who are potential threats to societal peace and national development.
The NYSC DG, Ibrahim, in his remarks, said that the retreat was a platform for the scheme’s appraisal of its operations by the top management.
According to a release by the NYSC Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi the agency will consider the suggestion.
Ibrahim added that the retreat would also help to formulate new strategies to guide its operations in a fast-changing world.