By Obioma C. Appolos
In a bid to empower Nigerian teeming unemployed youth, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) are assiduously working together to establish a youth empowerment program that will soon take off.
The Managing Director of the Fund, Adebayo Somefun, who stressed the need for an inter-agency collaboration between federal government agencies towards a greater human capital development especially in terms of job creation, went on to say that such a collaboration; as between NSITF and NYSC would empower fresh graduates upon completion of their one year mandatory youth service.
Mr Somefun, who stated this recently in Abuja when he paid a courtesy visit to the Director General of NYSC, Major General Suleiman Kazaure, revealed that NSITF engages at least 100 Youth Corps members every year. He added that accepting so many youths during their service year, is a demonstration of his understanding of the central role the scheme plays in national development.
Somefun, who was a deputy director at the NYSC corporate headquarters, before his appointment as the Managing Director of NSITF, hinted that his sojourn in the Corps for most part of his working life indeed prepared him for his present position.
“I started my carrier here at the NYSC. So, I learnt a lot through my sojourn here where I rose to the position of deputy director. Working in NYSC for that long indeed prepared me for the challenges of today. NYSC as an institution prepares its staffers for real life experience that can be adapted into any circumstances especially in the world of work. The NYSC organogram and work ethic that is unique imbued in me a very unique approach, which is what drives approach in this new assignment. For me, it is a homecoming of some sort.” He said.
Furthermore, he explained that he learnt the value of commitment to staff welfare and human capital development from his time at NYSC, saying that as MD of NSITF, he has ensured that welfare of staff is prominent on his agenda, as well as ensuring that the workforce as well is trained in order to implement the Employees’ Compensation Scheme to the satisfaction of Nigerian working class and employers.
While he congratulated the NYSC Director General on his recent promotion to the rank of a Major General in the Nigerian Army, he stressed that it was a demonstration of his hard work and quality leadership.
Earlier, while welcoming the NSITF MD and his team to the NYSC headquarters, Major General Kazaure had described Barrister Somefun as a hardworking and resilient member of the NYSC family who had taken his leadership expertise to another sector of government business.
Kazaure assured that the Corps is ready to collaborate with NSITF on youth empowerment initiatives that would be beneficial to young people.
He also lauded the Fund for creating space for youth corps members to serve in the organisation while urging government and private organisations to open their doors to corps member not only to serve their fatherland, but also prioritise their welfare during the service year.
He charged the NSITF Chief to always place staff welfare on very high pedestal in his scheme of operations emphasising the need to make a positive impact for posterity to uphold.
Kazaure further expressed his confidence that the two friendly agencies will continue working closely on issues of common concerns under the framework of public service.
