As part of the global effort to combat poverty and unemployment, members of the Editorial and Publicity Community Development Service (CDS) group of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) took training on skills acquisition and entrepreneurship to Federal Government College, Yola on Thursday.
Addressing students at the assembly hall of the College, the NYSC Adamawa State Coordi- not, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed said that having knowledge of different hand works is an added advantage in a world where quest for white collar jobs is quickly fizling out.
Represented by the Head, Skills Aquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Branch, Mrs. Jummai Wange Kwache, the State Coordinator emphasized that learning a trade at tender age is a panacea to emancipation from unemploy- ment, which he said is one of the major causes of restiveness and other social vices plunging the society today.
"I want to state without mincing words that the high rate of criminality that we are currently witnessing can largely be traced to joblessn- ess. It has become imperative therefore for you to embrace what these Corps members have come to teach you, so that you will not become willing tools in the hands of miscreants by the time you reach adulthood" he said.
Mallam Mohammed went further and saluted the Corps members for keeping the flag of the NYSC flying high, by stepping down the skills which they have garnered during their orient- ation course.
"On behalf of the Director General NYSC, Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, I want to use this oppo- rtunity to sincerely appreciate this crop of Corps members for keeping faith with the SAED programme of the Scheme by extending same to the younger generation, with a view to grooming more entrepreneurs for our dear country" he added.
He urged the students to pay rapt attention to the lessons and participate fully and actively in the practical session; adding that the progra- mme is a unique privilege which they should not allow to elude them.
Earlier, the President of the Editorial and Publi- city CDS group, Miss Ekaette Emmanuel stated that the motive behind taking the sensitization to the College was out of the desire to give back to the society, what NYSC has impacted into Corps members.
A cross section of the 437 students who took part in the training testified that they have been able to learn the arts of producing ankara bags and shoes, brooch and fascinators, liquid soap, chin-chin, and peanuts.
Talks on career choice and goal setting also formed part of the enlightenment campaign.