A retired Deputy Director of the National Youth Service Corps, Mr. Saka Akanbi Ajide has asserted that acquisition of skills will assist corps members to be financially independent and economically empowered.
The retired member of the NYSC family who became a senior citizen in January this year declared that the Scheme gave him an enablement to employ workers even as a corps member.
Ajide, made this revelation when he addressed the 2024 Batch 'A' (Stream II) corps members at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko during a motivational lecture
The guest lecturer, who served in Akwa Ibom during 1988/89 service year said that opportunity provided by NYSC which made him to earn legitimate money, encouraged the corps members to embrace the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.
"Gentlemen Corps Members, during our days in the national service, there was nothing like SAED programme but I identified what can be bringing me extra money aside the allowance, and I invested in the grinding machine. I bought the parts in Lagos and took it to Itu Local Government in Akwa Ibom State, where I coupled it and used it for commercial purposes."
The graduate of Political Science from the premier citadel of learning, University of Ibadan enjoined the members of the service corps to be disciplined and hardworking.
He said that NYSC management has done much for the corps members considering the quality of lectures and other activities they were exposed to in camp which he described as a pathway for them to becoming a responsible citizen of the country.
Ajide, who served the Scheme meritoriously and won NYSC Staff Merit Award as Best Officer in Inspectorate cadre in 1996 charged them to pursue their conceived even if nobody believed in them.
"My distinguished corps members, do not allow anyone to discourage you from the path you believe in. There are lots of people outside who want to constitute themselves as stumbling blocks, never succumb to their evil ways but rather remain focused about your convictions" he said.
Ajide, who demonstrated the attribute and quality of a detribalised Nigeria, hails from Kwara State but married his better half from Akwa Ibom State, supports the inter-tribal marriages, saying it will serve as a bridge builder among the various ethnic nationalities.
The motivational speaker, who had previously served in sensitive positions during his active working years admonished the members of the service corps to leave a legacy that would outlive them in their various places of primary assignment and host communities.
While wishing them successful orientation course and best of the service year, he enjoined them to live a decent life and be wary of joining the group that so much believed in get-rich-quick syndrome.
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