Buhari to unveil comprehensive national youth empowerment programme

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said his administration would soon unveil a comprehensive national youth empowerment programme to address youth employment, insecurity and other social vices.

Buhari disclosed this at the swearing-in of 2015 Batch “A” (Stream II) National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Lagos.

The president spoke through by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, who was also represented by Dr Aderemi Desalu, the state Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties.

Buhari said that the programme would be anchored on the model provided by the NYSC scheme.

He urged them to take advantage of the highly beneficial youth empowerment scheme provided by his government and non-governmental organisations for self-sustenance.

“As we have promised Nigerians, my administration will soon unveil a comprehensive national youth empowerment programme anchored on the model provided by the NYSC scheme.

“Our goal is to comprehensively address youth employment, insecurity and other social vices prevalent amongst our youths.

“As a globally recognised scheme, the role of corps members, as change agents, will be properly articulated and harnessed for the benefit of our citizens across the country,” the president said.

Buhari assured Nigerians that the fight against insurgency and terrorism would be more decisive and purposeful.

According to him, “our commitment is to quickly restore peace in the affected areas and guarantee the security of lives and property of every Nigerian, including corps members”.

The president also urged corps members to brace up and be ready to make useful contributions to the cause of national development.

Mr. Cyril Akhanemhe, Lagos State Coordinator of NYSC, had earlier said that 2,500 corps members, comprising 825 male and 1,675 female, were participating in the programme in Lagos.

Akhanemhe said that the Batch “A” was divided into two streams due to large number of graduates deployed to the state and the camp space constraint.

He appealed to the state governor to assist NYSC in renovating the camp.

The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilola, who was represented by Justice Oluwatoyin Oyekan-Abdulahi, administered the oath of allegiance on the corps members.

NAN