The Director General of National Youth Service Corps, Brig. Gen. Dogara Ahmed, has disclosed that the NYSC has an average of 350,000 mobilization of Corps members annually in process of promotion of national unity.
Brig. Gen. Ahmed stated this while delivery a lecture titled: Harnessing The Potentials of the Nigerian Youths for National Unity and Development”, at the 5th convocation lecture of the Edo State University Uzairue.
The director general who was represented by Ladan Baba, director South South zone said the scheme , being the largest youth organization in Africa, has given the participants the much needed exposure and opportunity for deeper appreciation and understanding of the nation’s diversity.
He disclosed that the NYSC was established as a deliberate Public policy to ensure the realization of the government post-war strategy of Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation (RRR)
The NYSC was a significant step towards youth engagement, it mandated qualified graduates of universities and other tertiary institutions to participate in a one year service programme to foster national unity and providing opportunity for the youth to contribute to community development.
He said the NYSC have created an opportunity for establishing life-long relationships among the youth as a lot has also been achieved in the area of cultural integration.
According to him, the scheme has the objective of developing common ties among the youths and promoting national unity by ensuring they are assigned to jobs in states other than their state of origin with the intent of removing prejudice and eliminating ignorant among the young graduates.
The DG added that the objectives of the scheme was to inculcate discipline in Nigeria youth by instilling in them a tradition of industry at work and of patriotic and loyal service to Nigeria in any situation they may find themselves.
And to raise the moral tone of the Nigeria youth by giving them the opportunity to learn about higher ideals of national achievements, social and cultural improvement; To develop in the Nigeria youth the attitude of mind acquired through shared experience and suitable training which will make them more amenable to mobilization in the national interest.
In order to achieve the objectives, the service corps shall ensure equitable distribution of members of the service corps and effective utilization of skills in areas national needs such as the corp members are assigned to work together in state other than state of origin.
On the education sector, he said the NYSC has contributed to the development of education with corps members serving as teachers in primary, secondary and tertiary schools as they are mostly posted to secondary schools where they constitute the major manpower especially in the rural communities.
He further stated that the corp members are also be involved in the areas of health sector, agriculture, NYSC Ventures, general elections, national census, skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development
The DG reviewed that notwithstanding the numerous achievements, the scheme still faced some challenges such as inadequacy of orientation camp facilities; poor infrastructure in various formations; submission of wrong data on graduates; poor quality of graduates being presented for mobilization and deployment and relocation recketeering among others.
The DG however called on the state governments to live up to their statutory responsibilities to the scheme in the provision, maintenance and upgrading of camp facilities.
In conclusion, the NYSC being the largest youth organization in Africa has played enormous roles through the mobilization of youth corp members for the promotion of national unity and development.
In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the university Engr Prof Emmanuel Aluyor, thanked the Pro-Chancellor Prof Emeritus Thomas Okpo K. Audu who he said contributed immensely to the success story of the university.
He equally thanked the DG of NYSC who delivered the 5th convocation lecture titled “Harnessing the Potential of Youth for National Unity And Development, saying it is a clarion call, an earnest plea to acknowledge the immense capabilities residing within the youth and the role they play in shaping the future of Nigeria.
Congratulating the graduating stident, he said they should take a leap of faith, believe in themselves, abilities and dreams, noting that the belief will propelled them forward, allowing them to surmount obstacles and reach for stars.
“Achievement is not a destination; it’s a continuous journey, it requires dedication, hard work and an unwavering commitment to excellence’, he advised.
On his part, the Pro-Chancellor, Prof Emeritus Thomas Okpo K Audu thanked the state governor Mr Godwin Obaseki for his support in ensuring that the university continues to make giant strides.
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