By Abraham Olatokunbone
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig-General Shuaibu Ibrahim has been nominated for an award of excellence by UK-based media group, TheNigerian News.
Ibrahim will be recognised as “Pathfinder of Youth Empowerment” at an event to mark the company’s fifth anniversary.
The NYSC Scheme will also be conferred with an award as “Most Outstanding Agency for National Unity and Development”.
According to a statement by the company, Brig-Gen Ibrahim was selected by its 10-man committee for equipping and empowering young Nigerians for self-reliance through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme.
” Over the years, the NYSC has pursued various measures geared towards critically engaging corps members constructively during their service year. However, under your watch, the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme has recorded massive gains and global recognition,” the statement said.
“More than ever, hundreds of thousands of Nigerian youths are better equipped and empowered for self-reliance. The SAED is now reputed as Nigeria’s flagship entrepreneurial programme and the biggest in Africa”.
On the choice of the NYSC for an award, the company said “we have seen the valuable contributory roles of the NYSC Scheme to national development and integration particularly in the time of national emergencies such as COVID-19 lockdown where medical doctors on the Scheme and other personnel provided numerous voluntary services”.
It added that “our committee also recalls the role of its young doctors in sustaining the health sector during strikes and the immeasurable contributions of Corp members to our educational development and skills acquisition.
“It is also on record that the NYSC in recent times has given herself to boosting the country’s treasury through countless revenue-generating schemes”.
The event, which will be held at the NAF Conference on December 16, will be chaired by the Honourable Minister of Special Duties, Senator (Dr) George Akume while His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano is Father of the Day.
Other eminent Nigerians to be awarded on that day include His Excellencies, Ambassador Tukur Buratai, Governor Mai Mala Buni, Governor Abdullahi Sule and Governor Bala Mohammed.
