President Muhammadu Buhari has awarded automatic employment and post graduate scholarships to 110 corps members who had distinguished themselves in course orientation, community development service and winding up/passing out during their service years.
This was contained in the president’s speech at the occasion of the 2018/2019 NYSC honours awards in the Banquet Hall of the presidential villa Thursday.
President Buhari said history was made by over one hundred graduate youths in the course of their service.
“History is being made today, as the Nation celebrates one hundred and ten patriotic Nigerian youths that have distinguished themselves in the course of National Service, to earn a place of honour as recipients of the Presidential Honours Award.
“I am delighted to welcome you all as we gather in recognition of these young Nigerians, and also by an attestation to the legacy of the NYSC Corps and our nation.
“It is noteworthy that the young men and women being honoured have excelled in the four cardinal programmes of the Scheme, namely; Orientation Course; Primary Assignment;Community Development Service and Winding-up/Passing-out, which formed the basis of assessment for the Honours Award,” Buhari said. Buhari added that the 110 ex-corps members had proven themselves worthy ambassadors of their respective families and the NYSC, and charged them to see the awards as a spur to greater service to the nation and humanity.
The president commended the entire corps members for their commitment to the programme and for the help they bring to the lives of fellow Nigerians they interact with during their service year.
“Let me also salute the founding fathers of the Scheme, notably General Yakubu Gowon. The NYSC in its 48th year of existence, has remained a crucible of national unity and integration by exposing our youth to diverse cultures and traditions, thereby making them appreciate our similarities and diversities.
“Through the Scheme, walls of ethnic stereotypes are pulled downhill , and bridges of unity built, especially with enduring friendships and relationships resulting from healthy interactions during the service year. This has strengthened the mileage covered in our quest to be a nation with one common vision and destiny despite our plurality.”
President Buhari praised the NYSC Director-General, Brig-General Shuaibu Ibrahim, for his reforms and sanitisation of the mobilisation process of the scheme.
“I have also followed with keen interest the efforts of the Scheme at sanitizing the mobilization process so that only those who meet the required criteria participate in the Scheme. “Therefore, I urge the Management of the Scheme to drive the program to further successes whilst retaining its standard and quality.”
The president also commended corps members for confronting and remaining at the forefront in the war against COVID-19 pandemic.
“Indeed, the inherent innovation and resilience of Nigerian youths, which members of the Service Corps demonstrated through the production of face masks, hand sanitizers, liquid soap, and several fabricated machines, contributed towards curtailing the spread of COVID – 19.”
He did not leave out the invaluable contributions of corps members to the improvement of education, health and social sectors as well as rural development This, he said, has portrayed successive generation of corps members as veritable agents of development.
“I have also been adequately briefed about the positive impact the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Programme is making on Corps Members. The effort of the Scheme to further strengthen the programme through collaboration with Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending is welcome innovation.”
Buhari assured that his government has abiding faith in the youth of Nigeria, the finest part of which corps members belong, adding that the signing into law of the “Not too Young to Run” bill, was to accommodate youth in the political landscape of the country.
“At this juncture, I wish to remind our youth, who have the greatest stake in the future of our country, Nigeria, and of course the generality of Nigerians to embrace our initiatives on value reorientation, as this is essential for the achievement of a country we shall all be proud to bequeath to future generations.”
