NYSC creates distress call centres for corpers

    The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig. Gen. Bamidele Olawunmi, has said that the agency has created distress call centres for corps members to strengthen security arrangements made for corpers across the country.

The DG said this at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Ede, Osun State, on Thursday during his visit to the camp.


Olawunmi stressed that the NYSC had put up measures to ensure that corps members were safe within and outside the camps nationwide.

He said, “One thing we don’t joke about is your security. We have put security measures in place for you even outside the camp.

“We have put in place distress call centres which you can call anytime you have complaints about your welfare or about security.

“You can even reach me directly on my twitter handle @nysc.ng if your state coordinator is not granting your request.”

Olawunmi stated that Osun, being a peaceful state, the NYSC had not recorded any case of kidnapping of corps members in the state.

The DG rated infrastructure at the NYSC camp in Osun State fairly good, saying the camp was better than some others in the country.

Olawunmi urged corps members to pay attention to skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development programmes they would be exposed to during the orientation programme, saying the opportunities could turn their lives around.

He said corps members should be looking at how they could create jobs in order to reduce the growing armies of unemployed youths in the country.

He stated that the Bank of Industry which was supporting the entrepreneurship development programme had set aside N2bn to support interested corps members.

“We are not only teaching you, we are going to empower those who show interest in the programme. The terms and conditions of the Bank of Industry towards empowering you is favourable at nine per cent interest rate and three to four years repayment period and six months moratorium. Your birth certificate is your collateral.”

Even when you are preparing to get a job, create another channel of income,” he said.

The Osun State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs. Regina Iluebbey, also assured the corps members of adequate security both within and outside the state.

She, however, warned them against unnecessary and illegal travels.