NONWA-GBAM (Rivers) The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) said that it disbursed N778,350 million to 3,056 corps members under its War Against Poverty (WAP) programme.
Chief Gordon Bozimo, Chairman, NYSC Governing Board, disclosed this while addressing newly inaugurated Batch A corps members at Nonwa-Gbam, Tai local government area, Rivers.
He said the board also recently signed an agreement with the Bank of Industry to raise funds for its “start-up” and skills acquisition programmes.
“This understanding seeks to offer more corps members the opportunity for easy access to loan facility to finance small and medium scale enterprises.
“Similarly, the NYSC management has provided the acquisition/entrepreneurship scheme with a life-line that will reduce unemployment and promote post-service self reliance,” he said.
Bizimo said that several centres had been set-up in 17 state secretariats across the country to accommodate more corps members.
The chairman said the board was in an agreement with the private sector to establish a Bakery and Water production factory at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja.
“We desire is to replicate similar efforts at all the six geopolitical zones in the country,’’ he said.
Bizimo said the NYSC scheme was presently faced with infrastructure challenges; government failure to respond to statutory obligations and rejection of corps members.
Also speaking, Mrs Nwatarali Dorothy, Rivers NYSC State, Coordinator said 2,675 corps members were currently receiving training at the NYSC Batch A Orientation camp in Nonwa-Gbam.
According to her, out of the figure, 1,226 are males, while 1,449 are females.
