A first class traditional ruler in Ondo State, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye, the Olowo of Owo Kingdom, has described the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, as an indispensable tool for national development.
The monarch made the remark at his palace while fielding questions on the operations of the scheme in the last 47 years.
The royal father who started his mandatory one year service at Kazaure in Jigawa State before relocating to Oyo State said that corps members had improved the lives of people in all communities through impactful projects.
Oba Ogunoye said NYSC was the best thing to happen to Nigeria as it had brought peaceful co-existence and erased the misconceptions and mutual distrust palpable in the land after the civil war.
“NYSC has made interaction between people from different cultural backgrounds and ethnics possible. The language barriers have been done away with.
“It is a common knowledge that some corps members after their service year remained in the state of deployment and establish various businesses or take up paid employment.
“Also, some corps members from different geopolitical zones decide to establish relationship which develop and blossom into marriage thus uniting people of different backgrounds.”
The traditional ruler while assessing the scheme posited that corps employers should desist from rejecting the services of corps members on national service.
“One of the worrisome and unpleasant attitudes of corps employers is the rejection of corps members’ services. By doing so, you are indirectly telling them they are not welcome in your community which will definitely dampen their morale.
“When I was in the active service before ascending the throne of my forefathers, I made it a point of duty not to reject corps members and whenever I was privileged to know that some were rejected, I ensured that we fixed them up.
“By not rejecting their services, the patriotic Nigerian youths from all parts of the country will give their best to build their various communities which invariably will translate to a better society.”
The royal father said he believed that Nigerian youths would be better leaders if the right atmosphere was created for them.
“Corps members are doing well in various sectors of the economy they are posted to. In the healthcare services, they are complementing in the area of primary healthcare while those who are posted to education and agricultural sectors are in the forefront of changing for the better the face of those sectors.”
The lawyer and administrator who ascended the throne last year called on all stakeholders to ensure that security and welfare of corps members were treated as utmost priority.
“We should treat the corps members as our sons and daughters because many of them are visiting the states of deployment for the first time and the manner we protect them will go a long way to influence them to want to stay after service.”
He advised the members of the service corps to integrate with their host communities and see their deployment as a divine arrangement.
“To my children in the national service and the prospective ones, see your deployment as a divine arrangement and settle down to contribute your meaningful quota without fear or trepidation.
“On the final analysis, I want you to eschew negative tendencies such as drug addiction, cyber crimes or fraudulent activities which will automatically truncate your dream in life. You have a lot to offer and I want you to remain focused so that you can remain good ambassadors of not only NYSC but your respective families as well as your state of origin.”
In her brief remarks, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs. Grace Akpabio, appreciated the monarch for remaining a treasured mentor to the corps members posted to Ondo State.
Akpabio explained that his commitment to the security and welfare of corps members stood him out, hence his selection to assess the laudable scheme.
The NYSC boss prayed for the wisdom of God which surpassed all human understanding to adjudicate on matters affecting his subjects and perfect health to administer his kingdom.
