A Bill seeking to provide for free and compulsory acquisition of vocational skills by youth corps members has passed second reading in the Senate.

The Bill which is titled “A Bill for an Act to amend the National Youth Service Corps Act 2004”, is aimed at equipping corps members with entrepreneurial skills to help them after service year.

Sponsor of the Bill, Senator Stella Oduah, emphasised that the period of the NYSC is to prepare Nigerian youths to rediscover their passions, talents, and skills.

According to the Bill, the NYSC service year will now be split into two, with the first part to be directed towards gaining experience in the work environment while the second part would be geared towards free and compulsory acquisition of vocational skills.

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, urged his colleagues to remain committed to overhauling the NYSC that suit the present day Nigeria.

“When the NYSC was introduced, the focus was integration and strengthening of Nigeria’s unity but it is clear now that there is need to incorporate vocational skills acquisition to equip our young graduates for better service to the nation and to themselves. I thank Senator Stella Oduah for sponsoring this Bill,” Saraki said.

The new Bill is seeking to insert a new section 5 to provide for a compulsory vocational training for corps members.

Other goals and benefits of the Bill include, securing the future of corps members through the acquisition of relevant skills for business success, learning in a conducive environment with state of the art teaching materials to maximise the service year.

It would also provide access to several funding windows towards starting or improving one’s business, and learning to develop a winning, investor ready business plan, among others.