The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps NYSC, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim has advised Corps members to live up to the expectations of the Nation, that has called them up for service.
The Director-General who gave the advice during the swearing- in ceremony of the 2021 Batch ‘C’ Stream One Corps members, also urged the Corps members to live harmoniously with members of their host community.
“My dear youths, the Nation that has called you up for service expects so much from you and you must never disappoint the people of Nigeria. The motto of NYSC is: Service and Humility. Let this be your guiding principle all through the duration of the programme.
“I charge you to love and co-exist harmoniously with members of your host community. As much as possible, try and make positive impact in the community by leaving it better than you met it. Get integrated into the community- learning the language and culture of the people, knowing their norms and avoiding their taboos. Please, never get involved in their local politics or show partisanship in national politics. Involvement in partisan politics is only permissible after your demobilisation from service”, he said.
According to the DG, the Orientation Course is designed to equip Corps members towards nation development.
“As the name connotes, Orientation Course is designed to equip Corps members adequately for the task of nation building. Primarily, the course contents involve Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme, training in physical fitness; series of lectures, social activities, games and sports, all geared towards imbuing you with the spirit of discipline and patriotism, and getting you prepared for the leadership roles that you will assume in the polity in the nearest future. I therefore encouraged you to try and make positive impact in the community by leaving it better than you met them.”
He also noted that due to the prevailing security and economic realities, the scheme has developed measures to address the challenges.
“This shift witnessed the introduction of Martial Arts training into the course content so as to equip Corps Members with basic self-defense skills. It will be wise to take this training seriously in order to enhance your personal security. That notwithstanding, the Scheme is always in constant touch with the various security agencies in order to ensure that your security is not compromised.
“The Scheme has also introduced Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme into the Orientation Course content. Prior to this intervention, the Scheme had been in collaboration with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as well as Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, now SDGs.”
Adding that, “At the end of the Service Year, deserving Corps members will be bestowed with some awards in the form of Chairman’s Award, State Honours Award and the highest – President’s NYSC Honours Award. Details of these recognitions shall be unveiled to you by the State Coordinator. However, it is pertinent to state that grading of recipients starts from the camp which makes it incumbent on you to distinguish yourself in whatever role that shall be assigned you in the course of the Orientation programme, and indeed the other cardinal programmes of the Scheme which I had earlier enumerated.”
On Corps members’ involvement in politics, the NYSC boss pleaded with them never to get involved in their local politics or show partisanship in national politics. Involvement in partisan politics is only permissible after their demobilisation from service.
On security of Corps Members, the DG disclosed that the Scheme is in constant touch with the various security agencies in order to ensure that their security is not compromised.
The DG, appealed to the Corps Members to break any journey extending beyond 6pm, as they must not endanger their safety, urging them to take shelter in NYSC, Military or Police formations.
Dominica Nwabufo
