File copy: Some NYSC members

By Zainab Garba

The Chairman House Committee on Youth Development, Mr Yemi Adaramodu, has said the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) should not be rattled by a bill recently sponsored for the for scraping the scheme.

Adaramodu said this while assuring that the scheme would not be scrapped at the unveiling of nine books on NYSC and a maiden NYSC film to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the scheme in Abuja on Thursday

He said the Bill calling for scrapping of NYSC was allowed because any member has the right to sponsor bill at the National Assembly.

“But the Speaker, the rest of us, the leadership of the house believe in the scheme and the scheme has come to stay in Nigeria.

“So the scheme is going nowhere, nobody is scrapping it.

“I want to tell you that we are behind you, we are with you, we are for you, once you see us here, you should know that we are together and we are fully with you.

“Mr Speaker even said that I should felicitate the director-general and his team for this task and that he is very interested in getting the books,” Adaramodu said.

Prof. Okpeh Okpeh, President, Historical Society of Nigeria, while reviewing the books, said that he particularly liked the one titled ‘NYSC (1973-2020):Emergence, Growth and Development.

He said that this was because even with the poor reading culture of Nigerians the pictures that accompanied the write up were sure to attract people and encourage them to read.

Okpeh said that the scheme might not be putting money in the coffers of the Federal Government but the national integration it fosters can not be over emphasised.

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, who spoke in the same vain, said that he had headed many organisations that utilized the service of corps members, explaining that no amount of money can buy the unity that the scheme stood for.

While identifying with the virtues of the NYSC, Sule said it remained the only successful indigenous institution that brought Nigerian youth together to appreciate their diversities.

Gen. Yakubu Gowon, a former Head of State and founder of the NYSC scheme, who joined the programme via Zoom, said it was the only scheme that could tell people how important and crucial they were to the national integration and unity of Nigeria.

Gowon said that 48 years was a long time and lauded the successive leadership of the scheme for their invaluable contributions that has kept the scheme growing from strength to strength.

Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, the Director-General of NYSC, had earlier in his address of welcome said that he believed that the documentation of the scheme’s activities would enrich the knowledge of Nigerians.T

“This is based on my belief that such endeavour will enrich the knowledge of Nigerians and non- Nigerians about the scheme.

“It will thereby engender a greater appreciation of its relevance and numerous achievements,” he said.

Ibrahim said that the publications would be veritable reference tools for researchers in addition to inspiring more patriotic zeal in youths.

The books unveiled include NYSC (1973-2020) Emergence, Growth and Development; NYSC and National development; NYSC and Community development service in Nigeria.

Others are NYSC and elections in Nigeria; NYSC and National integration; NYSC and Nigeria’s health sector; NYSC and the educational sector; NYSC and COVID-19 pandemic as well as NYSC and Skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development.

The maiden NYSC film titled ”A call to service” was among items unveiled to mark the scheme’s 48th anniversary.