Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, has asked the Nigerian Defence Academy to incorporate a skills acquisition and entrepreneurship programme into its curriculum.
On Tuesday in Kaduna, he made the suggestion during the NDA 22nd Convocation Lecture in honour of the graduating cadets of 71 Regular Course and Post-Graduate students.
According to the Nigerian News Agency, the lecture was titled “NYSC and Skills Acquisition for Youth Development in Nigeria: A Panacea to National Security”.
Ahmed said, “This integration is crucial as the NYSC will be ready to partner with the academy in this initiative.
”The extensive land available at the NDA should be utilised to engage the cadets in agricultural production.
“This initiative will not only promote sustainable land use , but will also provide cadets with practical agricultural skills , contributing to the overall training and self-sufficiency.”
The director-general also suggested that the academy’s Post-Graduate School should consider implementing a skill acquisition programme for its students.
He explained that such an initiative will equip students with vital practical skills that will complement their academic endeavours, therefore increasing their employability and capacity for self-reliance.
He stated that skill acquisition was vital to national security, adding, “If someone is engaged and has something to do, he will not consider doing evil against his country.”
“What is most important is for everyone to have a skill for himself for the development of the country.”
Earlier, NDA Commandant Maj.-Gen. John Ochai praised Ahmed for his speech, which underlined the importance of skill acquisition in national development.
Ochai said,”The lecture was an eye opener for every individual to take it as a responsibility.
“Apart from University education, to also acquire a skill in an area of chosen particular area that one is gifted.
”In doing so, they will be useful to themselves, the society and they will contribute to the national economy.”