NYSC At 50: Scheme Has Added Value To Nigeria — Salawu

A retired Director of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Abdulrazaq Salawu has stated that the scheme is achieving its objectives of fostering national unity and development and adding value to the country through the mobilisation of young Nigerian graduates.

Salawu also said the NYSC scheme was established at a time the country was torn apart by the civil war and there was a need for reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation of the different parts of the country.

Delivering a motivational lecture at the ongoing 2023, Batch A, Stream II orientation programme at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Iseyin, Oyo State, he admonished the corps members to take their posting letters in good faith and be ready to serve the fatherland anywhere they are posted and contribute their quota to the development of the nation.

He also tasked them to participate actively in the area of Community Development Service and be determined to impact positively and leave the community where they would be posted better than they met it.

The retired NYSC Director equally encouraged them to interact with people of their host communities to identify areas of their felt needs no matter how minute or enormous and deploy the problem-solving criteria learnt during their orientation course. 

On their security, he advised them to always board vehicles at designated parks when travelling and always get the approval of the State Coordinator before embarking on any journey.

"You should be very careful of the friends you keep so as to avoid falling victim of any evil circumstances.

"I implore you to devise legitimate ways to acquire wealth because fraudulent means of getting rich quickly such as 'Yahoo or Yahoo Plus' is not sustainable.

"Any lawful and positive contributions you make will add value to the country."

He, therefore, urged them to improve their entrepreneurial skills through the opportunity of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme they have been introduced to in the course of their national service to become entrepreneurs and wealth creators.

He stressed that the economic growth of the country is hinged on harnessing their youthful potential. 

"I enjoin you to maximize your service year for self-improvement and to plan adequately for your future. Any time you spend on social media must be for self-improvement instead of wasting your time."

Earlier in his welcome address, the NYSC Oyo State Coordinator, Comrade Odoba Abel Oche commended the Salawu for being a good role model and committed to excellence while in active service.

He informed the retired Director that the crop of corps members in camp are well mannered and disciplined.

He equally enjoined the corps members to imbibe every word of advice and share in the wealth of experience of the retired Director.