By Folasade Akpan
The Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, says the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) remains Nigeria’s strongest platform for building friendships across ethnic and religious divides.
Olawande stated this in Abuja during the command performance and anniversary lecture commemorating the 53rd anniversary of the scheme.
He said the NYSC is one of Nigeria’s most respected national institutions since its establishment in 1973, noting that it has continued to strengthen unity and patriotism among young Nigerians.
“The NYSC is truly the only story Nigeria is still writing about and a consistent platform for everybody that wants to grow, especially in the spirit of national unity,” he said.
According to him, the scheme remains a meeting point where cultures are exchanged and young Nigerians share common aspirations toward building a united country.
“It is where friendships are formed across ethnic and religious lines. We may have our differences, but this scheme has helped us to understand ourselves better,” he said.
The minister said the NYSC uniform had become more than ordinary attire, calling it a symbol of sacrifice, patriotism, determination and resilience among Nigerian youths over the decades.
He added that corps members had continued to contribute meaningfully to national development through service in schools, hospitals, farms, rural communities and other public institutions nationwide.
Olawande called on governors and other sub-national authorities to strengthen support for the scheme, stressing that states and institutions continued to benefit immensely from corps members’ contributions.
“There is no governor, local government council, school or institution that can do without this national scheme,” he said.
He urged state governments to integrate corps members into development programmes and improve their welfare to enable them contribute effectively to service delivery nationwide.
The minister said the Federal Government remained committed to expanding opportunities for corps members through entrepreneurship, digital innovation, leadership development, skills acquisition and economic empowerment initiatives.
He commended the NYSC management for sustaining the scheme despite prevailing national challenges, including insecurity and socio-economic pressures.
Earlier, the Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, said the anniversary provided another opportunity to reflect on the vision and contributions of the scheme to national development since inception.
Nafiu said the scheme had remained a veritable platform for promoting national unity, integration, patriotism and youth development in the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War.
“The founding fathers envisioned an institution that would foster unity and mutual understanding among Nigerians, and I am pleased that the scheme continues to fulfil that mandate,” he said.
According to him, deployment of graduates outside their states of origin had continued to strengthen national cohesion and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.
He added that the NYSC had also played strategic roles during elections, census exercises, health interventions, disaster response programmes and other national assignments.
Nafiu commended the dedication and patriotism of corps members and staff, noting that their commitment had continued to earn public trust and admiration for the scheme nationwide.
He also announced that the anniversary celebration would henceforth become an annual event across NYSC formations to encourage reflection, thanksgiving and recognition of outstanding service.
According to him, deserving staff members who distinguished themselves through integrity, productivity and dedication would receive certificates of merit during anniversary celebrations.
Also speaking, the Director of Media and Chairman of the Anniversary Committee, Mr Emeka Mgbemena, described the NYSC at 53 as a mature institution that had survived several challenges over the years.
Mgbemena said repeated calls in some quarters for the scrapping of the scheme had failed because it remained relevant to national development and youth integration.
“Whatever seeming shortfalls of the scheme are strengths to the scheme. I thank God that at 53, the scheme has come to maturity,” he said.
He commended the NYSC management for institutionalising the anniversary celebration and recognising staff members who had served the organisation meritoriously for more than 30 years.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NYSC was established in 1973 by the military administration of Yakubu Gowon to promote reconciliation, reconstruction and national unity after the civil war. (NAN) www.nannews.ng
FOF/TAK
Edited by Tosin Kolade
