A retired deputy director of the National Youth Service Corps, Mr. Abiodun Olorunleke, has posited that the mandate of the corps members is to effect necessary positive changes required to make the country a better place to be.
Olorunleke stated this during the motivational lecture he delivered to 2023 Batch ‘A’ (Stream II) corps members at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko.
The guest lecturer whose last assignment in NYSC was in Katsina State as State Coordinator opined that the members of the service corps should not view the service year as a leisure period but a time to design their future and follow their dreams.
“Distinguished and most valuable corps members, NYSC is a transition period between the time of graduation and going into the larger society. The management of the scheme has designed the orientation course programme to prepare you for what you will cope with in the larger society.
“National Youth Service Corps has given you an identity with this assemblage of young, vibrant, energetic and focused driven citizens of this great country to drive the economy in all ramifications and with the seriousness it deserves. Your purpose is to build bridges across all the divides and preach love and unity.”
He encouraged corps participants to establish relationships that their generations yet unborn would benefit from.
“NYSC scheme is a place to establish and maintain cordial relationships that will promote our indivisibility as an entity whose cord of unity and integration should wax stronger through your participation in nation building. NYSC has succeeded in integrating the youths of this country by mobilising them and putting them together to strategise and come up with practical solutions to various challenges hampering the development of the country.
“You all have roles to play and this is achievable if you have sound mind devoid of acrimony, bickering and misconceptions about our coming and living together outside our comfort zones. My advise to you is that you should internalise all what the managers of the scheme are exposing you to as this will serve as launching pad for you to carve a niche for yourselves like your predecessors did,” he counselled.
He said that active participation in the cardinal programmes of NYSC which are orientation course, primary assignment, community development service and winding up and passing out activities would qualify them to access Certificate of National Service, CNS, which are meant for those who served diligently.
While wishing the corps members best of the service year as they are mobilised during the Golden Jubilee of the establishment of the scheme charged them to be disciplined, hardworking, focused and above all, operate under the fear of God.
The state coordinator, Mrs. Victoria Nnenna Ani earlier in her opening remarks congratulated the corps members for having the rare privilege to listen to one of the eggheads of the scheme.
Ani, while giving brief to the august visitor said that over 1600 registered corps members had shown remarkable conduct since they reported to camp two weeks earlier.
“Our distinguished special guest Sir, I want to let you know that huge investment by the Federal Government through the National Youth Service Corps in the lives of these great ambassadors of Nigeria has not been a waste as this set are well behaved, disciplined and adapting very well to the instructions coming from the camp management,” she said.
The state coordinator said that NYSC deserved more than a passing comment for bringing well experienced but retired senior citizens of the scheme to share their life experiences with younger generations as a guide to pilot them adequately into the future.
