A global on-line discount platform aimed at subsidising expenses of serving members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and students of tertiary institutions in country is set to debut in Nigeria. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara is to launch the platform which targeted about 23 million Nigerian youths.
Committee of Vice Chancellors as well as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have endorsed the platform slated for launch on Thursday, March 24, 2016.
According to the initiator of the concept, Hon. Bimbo Daramola, who is a former member of the House of Representatives, the online platform became necessary as a result of the prevailing economic realities confronting the country.
Daramola said that Nigeria could no longer afford to lag behind in accessing the gains of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), noting that shrinking government income coupled with dwindling purchasing powers of Nigerian parents, provision safety nets for youth corpers and students was long overdue.
He revealed that in conjunction with a technical partner, Bridge Concept has designed a discount card which subscribing youth corpers and students can use to enjoy discount in goods and services at any location within and outside the country.
“The effect of our current economic realities on our youths is harsh, so, it is our responsibility to look for safety nets to shield them from crimes and criminality.
“While doing that, we should not lose focus on how to empower the students and youth corpers to keep them from deviant behaviors.
“That was what brought the idea of the online discount platform. The idea is that we have partners from all sectors of the economy, from hospitality to tourism, whereby any of our subscribers will enjoy a discount from the goods and services he or she is seeking to enjoy,” he said.
He added the platform currently has 35,000 partners, with students and youth corpers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) already accessing the service.
“Though it is new and first of its kind in Nigeria but it has been in existence in Europe and Americas for more than 30 decades. “These are some of the privileges enjoyed by students and other youth groups in Europe and Americas that makes it appear like their society is extra perfect.
“By the time this portal is launched by the Speaker on 24th of this month, we believe that life will be much more bearable for our students and youth corpers as their little stipends would now be able to get them more.
