The National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) has experienced a change of power, following the appointment of Brigadier General Mohammed Fada as the new Director General of the Scheme by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
Outgoing Helsman of the Scheme, Major General Ibrahim Shuaibu at a farewell parade organised in his honour on Wednesday in Abuja, thanked God for bringing him thus far in his career as a member of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and for a successful tenure as the 18th Chief Executive of the NYSC.
Gen. Shuaibu who recalled his days as the NYSC Boss said: ” I must say that the task of day-to-day running of NYSC has been one of the most challenging, yet most rewarding experiences of my life. It was indeed, an opportunity to make impact, not only on the graduate youths entrusted to us for mentorship, but also on the socio-economic development of our dear country.”
He highlighted some of his achievements to include:
Establishment of the NYSC National Cultural Troupe; Establishment of the NYSC Museum for effective preservation of the Scheme’s records, artifacts and legacies, including Corps members’ inventions, fabrications and artworks;
On-going construction of a state-of-the-art ICT Centre, which is at over 85% completion stage at the NYSC Headquarters Complex in pursuit of a technology-driven organization;
Aggressive revenue generation drive through the NYSC Ventures and the NYSC Integrated Online System which saw the Scheme remitting over one billion naira to the Federal Government between 2020 and 2021.
He also mentioned to his credit, the establishment of the NYSC Printing Press in Kaduna, Kaduna State, in furtherance of commitment to increasing the revenue generation capacity of the Scheme and providing additional training platforms for Corps members;
Establishment of the NYSC Radio transmitting on 88.3 FM in Abuja in addition to live streaming for our national and global audience, Establishment of the NYSC Television running on TStv Channel 365; Successful commencement of the enrolment of Corps members for the National Health Insurance Scheme in line with Presidential directive; among others.
Addressing his successor at the handing-over ceremony at the NYSC Directorate Headquarters in Abuja on the same day, Gen. Shuaibu stated that he was confident Fada would give his best in the service of the Scheme, and the nation as a whole.
He further advised him to pay particular attention to the security and general welfare of Corps members and Staff as well as make sustained advocacy for stakeholders’ support as part of his approaches to administration of the Scheme.
He also urged him to be proactive, respect every staff, apply critical thinking to everything, “if it would affect the Scheme negatively, have a rethink. Welfare of Corp Members should be Paramount to you”, Gen. Shuaibu said.
In response, Brig. Gen. Fada said, he would not let the confidence in him down, adding that projects done by his predecessor would be maintained, while ongoing ones would be pursued to logical conclusion.
To the staff, he said: “Let’s work as one family, extend the same cooperation the outgoing DG enjoyed to me”.
