The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) in partnership with a German International Aid Agency (GIZ) has urged Corps Members to combine vocational training with ICT skills in order to make themselves relevant in the business world of the 21st century.
The President of the ACCI, Dr Almujtaba Abubakar stated this during the opening ceremony of Professional ICT skills training organised for Corps Members in Abuja.
He said the Chamber had been supporting youth empowerment by training 100 youths per year, adding that it would continue to develop the Nigerian economy through different digital skill empowerment programmes for Corps Members.
Almujtaba stated further that the four weeks ICT training would feature web design, digital marketing, business communication, social media marketing, entrepreneurship development training, copyright writing, among other skills that would enable the Corps Members become job creators.
While thanking the NYSC for partnering with the chamber towards the success of the programme, the ACCI President enjoined the Corps participants to utilise the opportunity of the training to develop themselves and thereafter contribute their own quota to national development.
While narrating his personal experience on the positive impact of national service, Almujtaba stressed that the youth service programme remains the best opportunity for lifetime planning.
Also contributing during the opening session of the training, the Director-General, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mrs Victoria Akai added that the training essentially focused on youths between ages 18-35 years, of which Corps Members formed the bulk of the target population.
In his remarks during the programme, the NYSC Director-General, Major General Shuaibu lbrahim said the training was another milestone in the training of Corps Members nationwide.
He expressed gratitude to the German Agency for the laudable initiative and requested for the possibility of expanding the scope of the training to other states so as to accommodate more Corps Members across the country.
General Ibrahim also used the occasion to drum support for the establishment of the proposed NYSC Trust Fund, adding that the fund would provide a sustainable means of funding for the Scheme, as well as provide support for the NYSC Skill Acquisition training and start-up capitals for Corps Members.
He called on other organisations to emulate the GIZ in partnering with the Scheme in the training and empowerment of Corps Members, especially in skill acquisition programme, bearing in mind that “investment in our youth is an investment in the future and the entire nation”, the DG stressed.