By Folasade Akpan
Retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, former Head of State, is optimistic that the proposed National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Trust Fund Bill will soon receive presidential assent.
Gowon, the scheme’s founder, stated this when the scheme’s Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, led some management staff to pay him a courtesy visit.
Mr Eddy Megwa, the NYSC Director of Press and Public Relations, announced this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
He quoted Gowon as saying “the trust fund will make funds available for youth corps entrepreneurs to establish their businesses and improve the standard of facilities at the orientation camps.”
The fund would enhance training in Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme among other benefits.
While congratulating the director-general on his appointment as the 22nd Chief Executive of the scheme, Gowon urged him to adopt an all-inclusive style of leadership.
“All the managers of the scheme since inception have done exceptionally well. You have a good team to work with, strive and work to leave good legacies.”
Meanwhile, the former head of state also urged Ahmed to use his wealth of experience to take NYSC to greater heights.
In his response, Ahmed promised to build on the legacies of the founding fathers of the scheme.
The new NYSC boss assumed office as the 22nd director-general of the scheme on Jan. 30.
The bill which has been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly mandates businesses operating in Nigeria to remit one per cent of their net profit to fund the trust fund.
NAN
