Vice President  honours NYSC at 50

PAULETTE Orjime-Abuja

THE Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has commemorated with NYSC   at their 50th anniversary.

Osinbajo  said  the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has salvaged Nigeria’s electoral system and institutionalized free, fair, and credible elections,

In his speech at the opening of the 50th anniversary of the NYSC in Abuja on Monday, Professor Osinbajo, represented by the Minister of Power, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, said the scheme has also made itself indispensable by evolving policies and programmes that identify it as the foremost institution for development in the nation.

In a lecture, A former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, called for the repositioning of the NYSC for greater value addition to national unity, integration and development.

The Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Lawal promised that the State government would build more lodges and provide better welfare packages for corps members posted to the State.

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, said the 50th anniversary of the NYSC was an opportunity to evolve strategies that would strengthen the Scheme, make it more sustainable and broaden its scope of operations.

The NYSC Director-General, Brigadier-General Yushau Ahmed noted that the NYSC has contributed in all spheres of Education, Health, and Infrastructure development of the nation and deserved to be celebrated.

Ahmed noted  the  Scheme was  established 50 years ago by the General Yakubu Gowon-led Federal Government for national unity and integration, and to accelerate national healing and rebirth after the country’s 30-month-long civil war, which left the young nation deeply divided.

The NYSC was also aimed at harnessing the potentials of young, educated Nigerian graduates towards the task of National development.