The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has announced plans to introduce a training scheme similar to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for graduates holding the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE).
This initiative is aimed at providing structured post-graduation training for NCE graduates, akin to what university graduates experience through the NYSC.
The Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr. Olawande Wisdom, disclosed this during the opening ceremony of the BEMORE OYO 2024 Summer Bootcamp in Ibadan on Monday.
He revealed that the ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Education to implement this new training reform, which will specifically cater to NCE holders and other groups.
The NYSC, established in 1973, is a mandatory one-year national service program for graduates of Nigerian universities and polytechnics. It was created to foster unity and encourage youth participation in national development.
However, NCE graduates—who complete a three-year program in colleges of education to become professional teachers—have not been included in this scheme. The proposed training for NCE graduates would fill this gap, providing them with similar opportunities for citizenship training and professional development.
Wisdom highlighted the importance of such training programs in combating social vices, noting that organisations like the Boys’ Brigade and Girl Guides have historically played a crucial role in youth development.
He stressed that the ministry’s main priority is citizenship training, stating, “We have NYSC for those who finished from universities, but what about those who finished from NCE and others? We want to set up a training that you can complete within your state, without the need to relocate to another state.”
The minister emphasized that the ongoing reforms aim to bring renewed hope to Nigerian youths, both male and female.
He also praised Dr. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, founder of the BEMORE Empowered Girls Foundation, for her significant contributions to the advancement of the girl-child and for raising the bar of excellence in youth empowerment.
Dr. Anyanwu-Akeredolu, who is the wife of the former governor of Ondo State, clarified that the BEMORE initiative, which focuses on developing future female leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), is independent of the Ondo State Government.
The initiative, she explained, is inspired by her personal experiences and is committed to promoting the advancement of girls and women in Nigeria.
“We cannot achieve development if we leave behind 50 percent of our population, made up of women and girls,” she stated.
At the event, participants were trained by the Red Cross Society on Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). The event also included a book launch titled The History of BEMORE: A Historical Voyage by Esther Michael. Mr. Abdulrahman Yinusa, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Odu’a Investments, urged participants to take full advantage of the knowledge gained during the bootcamp and commended the organizers for their dedication to empowering the next generation of female leaders.
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