BEVERLY HILLS, February 11, (THEWILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari today offered automatic postgraduate scholarships and Federal Civil Service jobs to 110 graduates concluding their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
In a virtual 2018/2019 President’s NYSC Honours Award Ceremony in which he lauded the initiators of the scheme, especially Retired General Yakubu Gowon during whose tenure as Head of State the scheme came into being, Buhari announced cash rewards for the young Nigerians.
The virtual event, that had Gowon in attendance, held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja,
According to a statement by Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina, Buhari directed the relevant government agencies to ensure timely implementation of all the incentives for the recipients.
Urging the awardees to sustain the patriotic zeal that earned them the reward, the President said they excelled in all the needed NYSC markers.
He said: “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.
‘‘On behalf of the Government and the good people of Nigeria, I heartily congratulate those honoured on standing out from their peers in order to merit the honour being bestowed upon them.
‘‘You have proved yourselves worthy ambassadors of your respective families and the National Youth Service Corps. I am very proud of you and confident that the Award shall spur you to greater service to the Nation and humanity.”
The President also used the occasion to commend the founding fathers of the 48-year-old scheme, notably General Yakubu Gowon, who joined the occasion virtually.
President Buhari stressed that the NYSC remained a bastion of national unity and integration by exposing the youth to diverse cultures and traditions to make them appreciate the country’s similarities and diversities.
He said: “Through the Scheme, walls of ethnic stereotypes are pulled down, 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.”
On efforts to sanitise the mobilisation process of the scheme, the President directed the NYSC management to ensure that only those meeting the required criteria participated in the one-year service.
Buhari praised Nigerian youth on national service for frontally confronting and remaining at the forefront of the war against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The President noted that the inherent innovation and resilience of Nigerian youth, which members of the service corps demonstrated through the production of face masks, hand sanitisers, liquid soap, and several fabricated machines, contributed towards curtailing the spread of the pandemic.
Buhari submitted that: “The enormous contributions members of the Service Corps are making to the improvement of our education, health and social sectors as well as rural development remain a shining testament to the Scheme. This has portrayed successive generations of corps members as veritable agents of development.”
Commending the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and NYSC for the dogged implementation of the self-reliance programme of government for the youth, the President urged them to sustain the tempo of their activities in this direction.
For him, “It is critical that our youth benefit from the N75 billion Nigeria Youth Investment Fund. They should also be encouraged to key into other youth empowerment programmes of government such as Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative, Youth Initiative for Sustainable Agriculture in Nigeria, Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme, and Young Farmers Scheme among others”
Declaring that his administration had abiding faith in the Nigerian youth, the finest part of which corps members belonged, the President said he had demonstrated this belief by signing the “Not Too Young to Run” bill into law, so as to accommodate them in the political landscape.
“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,” he said.
Buhari also urged Nigerian youth to avoid all economic and social vices that were contrary to the wellbeing and progress of the country, admonishing them to adopt a collective approach, premised on sound values towards building a great nation.
He told them: “As young men and women, I recognise the extreme peer pressure you experience; it is my plea to you to be wary of those who would like to exploit your youth, intelligence and positive energy by channelling you into wrong paths. Avoiding such acts honours not just your families who have sacrificed to see you attain greater heights, but also brings pride to your fellow citizens.”
A highpoint at the combined Presidential Honours Award was the reading of citations of the best awardees for each service year.
For the 2018 set, Anyaogu Onyeyirichi Rejoice, who emerged first, served in Taraba State.
Anyaogu won the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) Award for the Best Female Corps Member in Community Development, while Odion Jessica Eseohen took the second position in the NCWS Award for Best Female Corps Member in Community Development.
Dr. Eze Sunday Victor, who served in Jigawa State, came first in the 2019 set.
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