President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the youths in the country, especially students in universities and other tertiary institutions, to prepare themselves for the period when government jobs would no longer be available to absolve them.
“We are reaching a time where you don’t have to get education and start looking for government jobs. What happens when government job is not there?”
President Buhari, who received members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Daura, Katsina State, at his country home, today, July 9, asked the youths to get educated and equip themselves for bigger opportunities, provided by technology.
He told the youth Corps to keep expanding their views on life and opportunities, and avoid the limitations of culture, ethnicity and religion.
He asked them to explore technology to network, even beyond borders, and to ensure personal development and a more competitive means of livelihood.
He further advised the youths to look beyond culture, ethnicity and religion in relating with one another, even as he asked them to engage in more travels, mingling, tolerance and negotiations to appreciate the rich diversity of the country.
According to Buhari, regular interface and broader vision of Nigeria as a whole will improve relationships, especially among the youths.
The President commended the former Head of State, retired General Yakubu Gowon for establishing NYSC, saying: “every time I meet former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, I always thank him for the NYSC, which helps people to move all over Nigeria.
“Before the NYSC, there were people who had never moved out of their locality.”
The President said that the scheme broadened the horizon for many over the years, and reduced the tensions and misunderstandings that exist between strangers.
“When I joined the army, I was posted to Abeokuta and then Lagos. And I have travelled all over Nigeria.”
Speaking, the Corps Liaison Officer (CLO), Douglas Damina, thanked the President for encouraging sustenance of the NYSC, and promoting youth inclusiveness and empowerment.
“Mr. President, we pray that the Almighty God will accept your prayers and remember your sacrifices for the nation.”
Damina told the President that the Corps members had achieved a lot in community development, renovating three motor boreholes, training 350 youths in various skills, and encouraging proper hygiene, especially among women.
President Buhari later donated two bulls, ten rams and the sum of N1,000,000 to the corps members for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
