The pioneer Chief Executive of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Colonel Ahmadu Ali (Rtd), describes the NYSC scheme as a vital instrument for promoting national unity and integration in Nigeria.
Ali stated this while interacting with the incumbent Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, during a courtesy visit to his Abuja residence.
He noted that, through its programmes, services, and positive nationwide visibility over the past five decades, the NYSC has continued to endear itself to Nigerians and justify its enduring relevance.
Colonel Ali, who served as the first National Director of the scheme, now known as Director-General, commended General Yakubu Gowon for his visionary leadership, which led to the establishment of the NYSC in 1973. He described the scheme as an enduring national programme whose relevance remains unquestionable.
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Reflecting on the impact of the scheme, Ali said the NYSC has significantly fostered national unity by giving young Nigerians the opportunity to live and serve in parts of the country they might not ordinarily have visited.
In his words, “People have the privilege of going to other states, which ordinarily they wouldn’t have.”
He reiterated that the NYSC provided young Nigerians with coping mechanisms, which they acquired outside their comfort zones, thereby increasing their tolerance for one another.
Colonel Ali further applauded managers of the scheme for helping to sustain the vision of the founding fathers.
He expressed pride in the NYSC, noting that the initial scepticism among Nigerian graduates, which led to protests against the establishment of the scheme, has now been replaced by anticipation and excitement. He pledged to continually pray for its continued sustainability.
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, said the visit was informed by the need to pay homage to him as the pioneer Chief Executive of the NYSC, in acknowledgement of the solid foundation he laid at its inception, which has continued to ensure the scheme’s stability more than 50 years after its establishment.
General Nafiu commended Ali for his administrative savvy, dexterity, and wisdom in navigating the initial challenges of the NYSC at inception, adding that the scheme remained indebted to him for his enduring leadership qualities.