The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje on Wednesday received the chairman designate of the National Youth Services Corps (NYSC), Ntufam Hilliard ETA at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja.
Eta paid a courtesy visit at the National Secretariat to formally intimate the party leadership of his recent appointment.
In his remarks, Mr. Eta expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the APC for the trust reposed in him, pledging to bring fresh perspective and purposeful reform to the 52-year-old national scheme.
Reflecting on the origins of the NYSC, Eta noted that Nigeria had only six universities at its inception, producing fewer than 100 graduates annually – a stark contrast to the hundreds of thousands of graduates turned out today. He emphasized that this demographic shift demands a more robust, future-oriented approach to youth service.
Central to his vision, he said, is a strategic reform of the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme. He advocated for the inclusion of critical 21st-century skills in areas such as big data analytics, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence, ensuring corps members are not just employable, but indispensable to Nigeria’s development goals.
Responding on behalf of the NWC, APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, warmly welcomed the Chairman-designate, describing the visit as a homecoming of sorts, given Eta’s previous role as National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the APC.
Dr. Ganduje reminisced on his own experience as a corps member in the old Bendel State, recalling the sense of national unity and hospitality that defined the service year. He commended the founding vision of General Yakubu Gowon, under whose leadership the NYSC scheme was birthed, and echoed the call for necessary reforms to keep the scheme relevant and impactful.
The APC National Chairman expressed confidence in Eta’s leadership capacity, describing him as a seasoned party man and policy thinker who will steer the NYSC Board towards innovation and relevance in a changing national landscape.
The NWC reaffirmed the party’s commitment to supporting policies and institutions that strengthen national unity, empower young Nigerians, and advance the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.
Echezona Okafor.
