THE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has stated that on the heels of the new reported cases of COVID-19 Omicron variant, evidence of vaccination will now be made mandatory for prospective corps members (PCM) from 2022.
It also stressed that it would not let down its guard on strict adherence to COVID-19 safety precautions.
The NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, made the disclosure on Monday in his nationwide virtual address to the 2021 Batch ‘C’ Stream II corps members and camp officials.
He said from the next orientation exercise, all the incoming PCMs would have to show evidence of vaccination before they would be allowed into the camp for registration.
“We want to ensure that we adhere strictly to the non -pharmaceutical protocols of COVID-19,” Ibrahim added.
On the other hand, the DG advised corps members who would complete their orientation course on Tuesday to add value to themselves by acquiring entrepreneurship skills, instead of seeking the scarcely available salaried jobs.
He said the scheme had partnered several institutions like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Access Bank, Bank of Industry (BOI), NYSC Foundation, Heritage Bank and others to provide soft loans to corps members with good business proposals.
He urged corps members to continue with the post-camp training of the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme they started during the orientation course.
He also cautioned the corps members against borrowing money to execute projects, but advised that they should source for funds from their locality.