The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria has urged newly sworn in Corps members to pay attention to all skill acquisition and vocational training aimed at preparing them for wealth creation during and after their service year.

This was contained in an address by NYSC Director-General DG, Professor Shauibu Ibrahim represented by the State Coordinator, Mercy Bamai Dawuda during the official swearing- in ceremony of 2021 batch ‘C’ stream 11 at NYSC Orientation Permanent site, Old MacGregor College, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Professor Shauibu urged them to take the Orientation course serious as it would equip them to create wealth for themselves and the nation.

“You must from this moment be availed to the opportunity through our skill acquisition and Enterpreneurship Development SAED Program”

The DG informed them that their predecessors who embraced the vocational and entrepreneurial training during their Orientation course are now successful business owners.

The DG also informed the Corps members that “NYSC policy of posting you away from your states of origin is aimed at broadening your understanding the country, thereby standing you in a good stead for effective contribution to the promotion of National Unity and integration.”

Shauibu appreciated the support of TY Danjuma who has donated some medical test kits to NYSC, Federal Ministry of Health and other health Institutions.

Moreso, his appreciation also went to Federal, State, Local Government and traditional Rulers for their support so far.

He equally thanked Security Agencies for ensuring the safety and success of the program, urging them to continue to do more in safeguarding the nation.

It would be recalled that NYSC sworn in 1606 Corps members, female 787 and male 819.

President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged universities of agriculture in the country to bridge the gap of food insecurity and address the nation’s dependence on imported foods.

He said the specialised universities must play their crucial role in catalaysing the development of the agricultural sector, to help Federal Government achieve its goal of sustainable green economy.

Buhari said this on Saturday, at the 10th Convocation ceremony of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), Abia.

The president, who is the visitor to the university was represented by Dr Mohammed Abubakar, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the government was looking up to the universities as lead drivers of the agricultural sector.

Buhari, who admitted that Nigeria is currently facing challenge of funding, however said that its endowments were far greater than constraints.

MOUAU Chancellor, Shehu Abubakar, commended President Buhari and the university management for the smooth running of the institution.

Abubakar, the Emir of Gombe, congratulated the graduands and urged them to be ambassadors of the university anytime.

He commended the university host communities for their cooperation and called on relevant government agencies to extend helping hands in alleviating problems hindering fast development of the school.

Earlier in his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe, disclosed that the university was graduating a total of 6,606 students, with 4,115 belonging to the 2018/2019 academic year at the undergraduate and post graduate levels.

Iwe, who is the sixth vice-chancellor, in his breakdown, said 5,817 obtained bachelor’s degree, 92 with postgraduate diploma, 454 had master’s degree while 243 were awarded with doctoral degree.

“Out of the 5,817 first degree graduands, 92 obtained first class honours; 1,775 with second class honours upper division; 2,905 had second class honours lower division while 1,226 with third class and 18 with pass,” he said.

Iwe said the university had recorded many breakthroughs, but called for significant infusion of funds for the upgrade of its physical environment.

The university conferred honorary degrees on four distinguished Nigerians in recognition of their positive contributions to the society.

The awardees are: Oba Akeem Ogungbangbe, the Ajagbusi-Ekun VI Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa, Osun; Usman Kansila, Founder, UYK Nigeria; Cosmas Maduka, Founder and Chairman of Coscharis Group and Chika Ikenga, Founder and Managing Director of Eunisell

Vice-Chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Oyo, Prof. Timothy Adebayo, has called for amendment of the law establishing Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to accommodate private universities in the country.

He made the appeal at a news conference held on Monday in Oyo, ahead of the convocation ceremony of the institution.

Ajayi Crowther University ACU, a faith-based institution, was established by the Supra Diocesan Board (West) of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) with a total of 990 students graduated in 2019/2020, out of whom 51 made first class, while 1,165 graduated in the 2020/2021 session, with 34 making first class.

Adebayo called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly (NASS) to amend the law to allow private universities benefit from the fund.

While identifying funding as a major challenge facing private universities in Nigeria, he said that the staffers and students of private universities should not be deprived the right to benefit from public funds.

The vice-chancellor noted that private universities also needed subvention to help them alleviate the pressure on public universities in terms of admission.

Adebayo said that private universities had been helping to mitigate the pressure on public universities but were, however, hampered by funding.

He said that most of them were not receiving subvention from any other source outside the tuition fee being paid by the students and donations from philanthropists.

“As at last count, Nigeria has 99 private universities. Giving them subvention will alleviate the funding problem and mitigate the fee being charged.

“Education is one of the vital tools that cannot be totally privatised,” he explained.

Earlier, the vice-chancellor said that the special and combined convocation ceremony would feature inauguration of completed projects at the institution.

Adebayo said that the combined 12th and 13th convocation ceremony, which commenced on Nov. 27, would end on Dec. 4.

According to him, the award of diploma and first degree will hold on Dec. 3, while that of postgraduate and honorary degrees hold on Dec. 4

The National Youth Service Corps in Gombe State has warned corps members against the illegal connection of electricity and electrical appliances in camp.

The Camp Director, Mohammed Yakubu, made this call on Tuesday as the 2021 Batch ‘C’ Stream II Corps members took the oath of allegiance during the swearing-in ceremony.

This was contained in a statement by the NYSC Gombe State, adding that the corps members were advised on how to make judicious use of camp facilities.

According to the statement, Yakubu commended the corps members for “exhibiting a high level of discipline thus far.”

The statement partly read, “He advised them to sustain the tempo as they take the oath of allegiance this morning during their swearing-in ceremony.

“Speaking on cleanliness, Yakubu said hostels and environs must be kept clean at all times. He called on hostel Governors to be alive to their responsibility.”

According to the Gombe NYSC coordinator, Ada Imoni, 1566 Corps members, made up of 618 males and 948 females were sworn in during the ceremony on Tuesday.