Amgbare Ekaunkumo,Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Coordinator of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Bayelsa, Mrs Ojugo Iyowuna, has said since the establishment of the scheme it has brought about national unity, rural development, youth empowerment and skills acquisition also participation in several national programmes.
She stated this on Saturday, in the NYSC Orientation Camp in Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa, during the solidarity walk/carnival, to mark 48 anniversary of the scheme.
DAYBREAK NEWS reports that the NYSC was established by the Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s administration on 22 May, 1973 with a clear mandate to promote national unity and integration among the Youths.
According to her: “I am happy to inform you that since the creation of Bayelsa in 1996, the NYSC has contributed immensely to the development of the State in some areas.
“Education, Corps members are the mainstay of education in the state. They form a huge part of the workforce in most schools, especially in the rural areas.
“There is no community school that you will not find a Corps member because of their invaluable services.
“Rural health, the NYSC consistently deploys it’s corps medical personnel made up of doctors, nurses, medical lab scientist etc, to complement the manpower in the rural areas.
“In addition through the quarterly programme tagged “Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers”, over 5000 residents in selected communities in Bayelsa have benefited from our free medical services.
“Community Development Services, through personal and group CDS initiatives, corps members have been able to touch many lives in Bayelsa, by embarking on projects that are felt needs of the people.
“Some of these include construction of libraries, science laboratories, toilets, portable water, sickbays include mass adult literacy, donation of food items to less privilege.
“Most recently corps members played an active role in combating the sourge of COVID-19 through production of hand sanitizers, handwashing stands, sensitization Programmes and other notable initiatives.
“Today’s solidarity walk/ carnival, which includes procession, passing of Unity Touch, tug-of-war displays and other exciting activities is therefore remind us how far we have gone and what can be achieved going forward,” she said.
The State Coordinator, call on all stakeholders in Bayelsa and the entire nation to continue to support the NYSC to achieve it’s goals.
She urged the Bayelsa Government, Local Government Areas, Corps Employers, parents/guardians to enhance the operation of the scheme in the state.
In an interview with a Corp members, on the proposed scrabbing of NYSC scheme by the National Assembly, Balogun Joshua, said security should not be a reason to scrab a programme that has brought unity amongst the youths from different ethnic groups, in Nigeria.
He said: “because of plane crash in Nigeria can you now bar flight operations? With all the crash that have occured no body has called for stopping of flight in Nigeria.
“We have had boat mischap, motor cycle accident, car accident, amongst others non has called for such but why the NYSC that integrate people be scrabed.
“NYSC that unites the youths of Nigeria should be a continuous process, and even be improved on for better service delivery to Nigeria,” he said.
He said with such act of moving a motion by the National Assembly, calling for it’s to be scrabed is like jetisson substance and chasing shadows.
Another NYSC member, Shantel Ofiete, said NYSC has brought people together, it has integrated people from different culture and background and people of diverse character coming together as one for a common purpose unity.
She, said people coming together to form a platoon without tribal basis, religion or ethnic groups or background.
The corps member, said Community Development Services, takes its services to the grassroot level where the Government people cannot get they go and render such service to the people.
