The State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps in Ondo State, Mrs. Kuburat Omowumi Bakare, has charged members of the service corps to look beyond paid employment in their quest to be independent in the foreseeable future.
The state coordinator made the charge at the NYSC Zonal Office, Akure, the state capital while addressing the 2024 Batch ‘A’ (Stream II) corps members preparatory to their exit from the national service at the completion of the mandatory one year service to their fatherland.
Bakare, while speaking on Job Awareness Creation, JAC, programme, underscored the importance of job creation and self-reliance, saying that those who were making waves in the business world were not people in paid employment but those whose creativity and ingenuity were known through the skills they acquired at one point or the other in their lives.
She urged corps members not to depend solely on white-collar jobs but use the skills they had gained through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, SAED, programme to become employers of labour and create opportunities for others as well.
Bakare disclosed that NYSC, in conjunction, with funding organisations such as Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Bank of Industry, BOI; Bank of Agriculture, BOA, and other commercial banks have made available loans, grants and other technical support to assist corps members to navigate the unpredictable nature of the business environment.
She urged them to embrace the SAED programme, which according to her, had reduced the unemployment rate in the society to a manageable level, adding that NYSC would continue to provide enabling environment for both serving and ex-corps members to fulfill their dreams and aspirations.
Earlier, the Assistant Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, SAED, programme, Mrs. Jennifer Funmilola Dawodu, reminded the corps members of the impact the programme had on them right from the orientation camp, which had the propensity to catapult them into potential business owners and captains of industries.
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“You have been equipped at every stage to become job creators and not job seekers. The knowledge and skills you have gained through the SAED programme are enough to make you self-reliant after your service year. I encourage you to build your future on the foundation of the skills you’ve learnt,” she said.
The programme also featured series of speakers who enlightened the corps members on the importance of proper job preparation, shared effective strategies for excelling in job interviews, and how to stand out in the competitive job market.
In addition to skills development, corps members were sensitised on the use of job portals for employment opportunities.
They were advised to exercise caution when applying for jobs online to avoid falling victim to fraudulent job providers.
Other motivational speakers prepared the corps members for the challenges they might face in the larger society, stressing that perseverance and resilience were crucial for the attainment of success.
The Job Awareness Creation programme was well-received by the corps members, who expressed their delight and gratitude for the valuable insights and advice. The event served as a vital platform to equip them with the required knowledge and skills needed to navigate their post-service lives and contribute meaningfully to the larger society.
