REPORTER: ROSEMARY ELEE
The recently approved reforms for the National Youth Service Corps by the Federal Executive Council seems to be gaining wide acceptability among residents of Anambra State.
The reform is generally aimed at transforming the NYSC into a platform for skills development, entrepreneurship and employment for Nigerian graduates.
One of the key changes approved for the NYSC is a new structure where every participant will register under one of eleven specialised service schemes which are agriculture, medical, education,technology and digital,legal,public service, infrastructure, green economy, as well as paramilitary and security.
Corps members would select their preferred scheme during registration and receive targeted training throughout the orientation exercise to boost employability and prepare them for the demands of the modern workforce.
Speaking on the development, a Public Affairs Analyst, Doctor Dennis Ekemezie emphasized the need for the Federal Government to muster the political will to follow through on the new policy to ensure that Nigerian youths are empowered to become the engine that will drive the economic development of the new Nigeria.
Doctor Ekemezie stressed the importance of providing logistics that would help those who are trained to access necessary tools and receive mentorship that would help them succeed in their chosen stream.
Also speaking, a Media Consultant, Mr Tony Okafor explained that adding skills acquisition to formal education bridges the gap between theory and practice, a development he said, would transform the standard of academic knowledge into practical real world value.
For her part, an Educationist, Mrs Ifeoma Michael said the initiative would greatly improve the lot of the Nigerian graduates who she said are becoming out of tune with the current situation where it seems their education counts for nothing.
Mrs Michael opined that most parents are no longer willing to invest in giving their children qualitative education describing such ventures as a waste of resources.
A corps member , Chinua Okpala commended the move but said the proposed six weeks orientation might not be acceptable as most youths who may be engaged in one venture or the other may not be able to spare such a long period.
When contacted, the Anambra State Coordinator National Youth Service Corps Mrs Pauline Ojisua declined comments.
The respondents agreed that an overhaul of the National Youth Service Corps Scheme was long over due.
