By Onyeje Abutu-Joel
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has urged corps employers to be parents and mentors to corps members posted to their organisations.
This was said in a paper presentation by Mr Emmanuel Adah during a one-day Corps Employers’ Workshop organized by NYSC on Thursday in Makurdi.
The workshop which drew participants from the 23 local government areas of Benue had as its theme: “Partners In Progress: Corps Employers’ Role In Enhancing Corps Members’ Well-being and Productivity”.
Presenting a paper on the topic; “Managing and Preparing a Young Employee for Productivity”, Adah said parenting support in the workplace was crucial for employee well-being and productivity.
“Workplace parenting through education, flexible work arrangements, and mental health support can reduce stress, absenteeism, and improve overall job satisfaction, benefiting both employees and the organization”, he said.
He also noted that mentoring in the workplace facilitates knowledge transfer, accelerates employee development, enhances performance and strengthens the overall organizational culture.
“By fostering a supportive environment for growth, mentoring helps retain talent, increase employee engagement, and ultimately contributes to the long — term success of the company”, Adah stated.
Adah who is also a corps employer therefore, urged all corps employers to be more like parents and mentors to corps members posted to them than being bosses, saying that parental roles in their lives would make them feel at home to put in their best in their assignments.
In her remark, the Benue NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Veronica Garba appreciated the corps employers in the state for their roles in mentoring, engaging and supporting corps members during their service year, saying that they were not just employers but nation building mentors and catalysts for change.
Garba pointed out that corps members represent the hope and promise of the nation, saying that if placed in the right environment, nurtured and allowed to grow, they would contribute immensely to national development.
She therefore, urged corps employers to maximize the opportunity given to contribute to national development by accepting corps members posted to them and ensuring that they were well mentored and cared for.
Also speaking, the NYSC North Central Director II, Mrs Grace Ogebe noted that corps employers played vital role in the performance of corps members during their service year by providing the platforms for them to apply their skills.
However, Ogebe who was represented by the Deputy Director, Operations, Mr Abdulrazaq Wahab lamented the increasing cases of rejection of corps members posted to organisations.
She alleged that some organisations cooperate with corps members in enforcing self-induced rejection.
Ogebe appealed to corps employers to stop the negative trends of rejecting corps members and provide supportive work environment that would foster their well being and productivity. NAN
