The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, has called on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) to integrate skills acquisition and entrepreneurship programs into its curriculum.
Ahmed made this suggestion during the NDA’s 22nd Convocation Lecture, held in honor of the graduating cadets of the 71st Regular Course and Postgraduate students on Tuesday in Kaduna.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture was titled “NYSC and Skills Acquisition for Youth Development in Nigeria: A Panacea to National Security.”
Ahmed emphasized the importance of this integration, stating that the NYSC is willing to collaborate with the academy on such an initiative. He highlighted that the vast land resources at the NDA could be utilized for agricultural production, engaging cadets in practical agricultural activities.
This, he explained, would not only promote sustainable land use but also equip cadets with valuable agricultural skills, contributing to their overall training and self-sufficiency.
The Director-General also advised that the academy’s Postgraduate School consider introducing skills acquisition programs for its students. He explained that this would offer students practical skills that complement their academic knowledge, increasing their employability and fostering self-reliance.
Ahmed stressed that skills acquisition is essential for national security, noting that, “When individuals are gainfully employed and have productive activities, they are less likely to engage in harmful actions against their country.”
He added, “It is crucial for everyone to possess a skill for personal and national development.”
Earlier in the event, the Commandant of the NDA, Maj.-Gen. John Ochai, expressed gratitude to Ahmed for delivering the lecture, which underscored the significance of skills acquisition for national growth.
Ochai remarked, “The lecture has provided valuable insight for individuals to view skills acquisition as a personal responsibility. Beyond formal university education, acquiring a skill in a chosen area of interest can make one useful to themselves, society, and contribute to the national economy.”
(NAN)
, Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, has called on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) to integrate skills acquisition and entrepreneurship programs into its curriculum.){kind=link}