The Nigerian Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Sunday Dare has commended the ingenuity of the leaders who bequeathed the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC Scheme as well as Nigerians and the persons whose unwavering commitment have led to its sustenance for fifty years now.
The Minister who made the commendation at the opening ceremony of NYSC at 50 held in Abuja on Monday stated that the scheme has made invaluable impact in national development since its inception 50 years ago.
He noted that the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC scheme has kept faith with its objectives and sustained its relevance in the country’s development.
Dare who described NYSC as the leading youth organisation in Africa explained further that “the hindsight of past presidents and heads of state has nurtured this scheme despite the odds that have threatened its existence. The NYSC has made an invaluable impact in various aspects of national development, including providing healthcare to rural communities, and also made legendary contributions to education and rural infrastructure.
“There have been acts of resourcefulness and benevolence, and the nation witnessed remarkable ingenuity from youth corps members during the COVID-19 pandemic and before then during the Ebola virus and HIV/AIDS pandemic.”
While applauding President Muhammadu Buhari’s contributions to the scheme in the past eight years, Dare also appreciated the president for the privilege to serve the country as minister for sports and youth development.
He therefore called on the leadership of the scheme to see the 50th anniversary as an opportunity to evolve strategies to strengthen the scheme, make it more sustainable, and broaden its scope of operations to enhance its contributions to further drive national development.
Confidence Okwuchi
