The Ondo State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Mrs. Grace Akpabio, has asserted that the scheme is in the forefront of waging the war against coronavirus.
She said that was done through aggressive sensitisation programmes.
Akpabio made the assertion during a sensitisation walk to commemorate the 47th anniversary of the establishment of the NYSC scheme.
Speaking on the theme, “Deepening the Impact of National Service through Innovations,” Akpabio said that the creative approach of the scheme had earned commendation from the Presidential Task Force on COVID -19.
She said that since the establishment of NYSC on 22nd May, 1973, the scheme had been impacting positively on all facets of human endeavours.
The NYSC boss announced that the scheme in Ondo State had produced over 2000 face masks and distributed same to vulnerable and indigent people across the length and breadth of the state.
“I want to inform you that corps members nationwide have fabricated different machines to curtail the spread of COVID -19 and in Ondo State, SAED Vanguard equally produced antiseptic hand sanitisers, face masks and liquid soap to support the government to eradicate the virus from our society,” she said.
Akpabio explained that the NYSC management had to distribute palliatives to Motherless Babies and Orphanages Homes to celebrate the 47 anniversary of NYSC in a special way.
“We all know that the Federal Government has issued directive on social distancing and observance of health measures, for this reason, we cannot roll out drums to celebrate this milestone with pomp and pageantry,” said Akpabio.
Akpabio led few management staff and the representatives of corps members to visit Ondo State Children Home, Oba-Ile and Grace Orphanage, Akure where foodstuffs, clothing materials as well as baby food, pampers, provisions and cash donation were made.
It would be recalled that General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) as Head of State, established the National Youth Service Corps Scheme’by Decree 24 of 22nd May, 1973 which was later repealed by Decree 51 of 16th June, 1993 and now quoted as NYSC Act CAP N84, Laws of Federation of Nigeria.
The objectives include among other things to heal the wounds of the 30 months civil war in the country; development of common ties among Nigerian youths and mainly for the promotion of national unity.
