NYSC still relevant institution at 50 – Ondo Dep. Gov

By Segun Giwa

The Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has said  that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) remained a relevant government institution as the corps marks its 50th anniversary.

Aiyedatiwa stated this at an event to celebrate NYSC at  50 on Thursday in Akure

He said that the NYSC had discharged the scheme’s mandate to the nation over the years.

Represented at the occasion by Mr Segun Omojuwa, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Office of the Deputy Governor, Aiyedatiwa said that nothing could take the place of NYSC which had distinguished itself in the last 50 years.

He said that the scheme was a response to the threat to the unity and peace of the country occasioned by the Nigerian Civil War.

The deputy governor added that the scheme’s focus as stated in the decree establishing it was “to forge common ties among the youth of Nigeria and promote national unity”.

He said that in the last five decades, Nigerians had seen how the scheme had provided a platform for youths to know and explore the country’s opportunities that existed in states and regions other than their own.

According to him, the scheme has also provided massive labour in terms of personnel supply to the public and private sectors at a cheaper cost.

“There is a significant question we must ask ourselves. If the NYSC had not been created, what other state institution would have been able to perform the great responsibilities being discharged by it to the nation?

“At the risk of being immodest, I dare say there is none. Nothing could take the place of an institution that has distinguished itself in the last 50 years, surviving all the odds and waxing stronger.

“Shall we also not reckon with the Memorandum of Understanding between the NYSC and INEC to supply bulk of adhoc staff for the conduct of general elections since about 2011.

“We now have many more educated ad-hoc staff handling our elections, which in a way has enhanced their quality and implementation of the various electoral reforms in the country.

“What of the various entrepreneurial schemes undertaken to make corps members self-employed after the service years.

“By this, many corps members have moved from job seekers to job providers,” Aiyedatiwa said.

Earlier, the State Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs Victoria Ani, said the scheme was a deliberate policy to ensure the realisation of the policy of reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction introduced by the then Federal Government after the civil war.

Ani said that the NYSC since its establishment had been promoting peace and encouraging mutual understanding of the common ties among Nigerian youths, thereby fostering national unity.

“The achievements of the NYSC are humongous as every household has benefitted and still benefitting from the noble scheme.

“I, therefore, want to enjoin everyone here present to continue to avail us your love and support in diverse way you know that you can be of assistance to us.

“Challenges are part of life and we are always ready to surmount whatever life place before us.

“We have survived the dark days already and we are marching forward to celebrating the centenary with renewed hope and improved better service delivery to our principal stakeholders- the graduate youths,” she said.

The guest lecturer at the event, Dr Adedayo Adedeji, a Former Deputy Registrar, Academics at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), described the NYSC as the most enduring legacy of the military rule.

Adedeji said that the the scheme had promoted intercultural integration right from platoons at orientation camps and also drew out leadership traits among corps members.

(NAN)