Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has praised successive batches of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members for upholding the core values of the Scheme since its establishment more than five decades ago.
According to a statement by Caroline Embu, Director of Information and Public Relations, Gowon gave the commendation when the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, paid him a visit at his residence in Abuja.
Gowon, whose administration founded the NYSC in 1973, said corps members’ contributions to urban and rural development, as well as the education, health and electoral sectors, remain worthy of recognition. He expressed satisfaction with the successes recorded by the Scheme over the years and commended its managers for sustaining the vision of its founding fathers.
“Let me commend all the staff of the Scheme from inception to date. I say well done and thank you for ensuring that it records success,” he said.
Reflecting on the origins of the NYSC, Gowon explained that it was borne out of a national desire to harness Nigeria’s human resources for rebuilding and unity after the civil war. He noted that the Scheme’s deployment policy has fostered inter-ethnic marriages and strengthened national cohesion, but stressed the need to continually adapt its operations to current realities.
He called for stronger support from stakeholders to help the Scheme deliver more effectively on its mandate, particularly in promoting entrepreneurship and self-reliance among corps members, in line with the objectives of the NYSC Act.
Earlier, Brigadier General Nafiu thanked the former Head of State for his consistent guidance and support. He reaffirmed the commitment of NYSC staff to sustaining the Scheme’s achievements and exploring new frontiers of excellence in the post–golden jubilee era.