The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has charged corps members to see the service year as a civic responsibility and a call to nation-building.
Speaking during his address to corps members at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ede, Osun State, General Nafiu also charged the corps members to remain committed, dedicated, selfless and disciplined as they commence their service year to the nation.
He said, “You are primarily responsible for building and joining to build this nation and make it desirable. Because Nigeria belongs to us, we must serve it.”
The NYSC DG urged the corps members to disregard negative narratives circulating on social media about the country, reminding them of their role as educated citizens.
“Don’t follow the noise on social media that things are getting worse. You are all graduates, think critically,” he said.
He emphasised that the NYSC orientation exercise was designed to bring together young Nigerians from diverse backgrounds to foster unity and mutual understanding.
“The essence of the orientation exercise is to congregate the youths under the same condition to get acquainted with other cultures, people and experiences across the country in fulfillment of the NYSC dream to unite the country,” he said.
According to him, every Nigerian graduate passes through the NYSC to fulfill a national mandate, which remained a clarion call to service.
“It is a clarion call to service and to build a nation. It helps to pull out that leadership potential. It is our responsibility as youths to build and lead this nation.”
He charged the corps members to start in the front and learn leadership because it is about responsibility.
“You must use social media responsibility. For this one year jettison aluta. You are not politicians.
“Discipline in the NYSC is not just meted out. Be obedient, abide with the NYSC bylaw. Don’t travel without permission and don’t travel at nights. Take the issue of your personal security seriously. It pains the NYSC when we resume news of bad things happening to our corps members. Know your rights, your privileges and your limits,” he added.
Brigadier General Nafiu praised the inclusiveness of Nigerian society, maintaining that corps members would find hospitality across states.
“The beauty of Nigeria is that you’re welcomed everywhere. After the NYSC service year, it took the intervention of some parents to get their children back home. It is an enjoyable scheme,” he added.
He encouraged the corps members to feel at home in Osun State and to make meaningful contributions during their service.
“Here is where you should be now. Contribute your quota and write your name in gold,” he charged.
Highlighting the importance of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, SAED, programme, he urged corps members to take the initiative seriously.
The DG warned corps members not to view the SAED activities as a waste of time.
“The whole essence of NYSC SAED programme is to give you two at the price of one. It makes you skillfully qualified at the end of the service year,” he explained.
“Don’t see SAED as time-wasting activities. You will need it. Reality is what you have now. There is a difference between promise and reality. Don’t cheat yourself by leaving at the end of one year with only your certificate of national service.”
He encouraged them to acquire skills even if they would not use them immediately and admonished the corps members to embrace financial literacy and cultivate a saving culture.
“Acquire skills even if you don’t need it immediately. NYSC had gone into partnership with several organisations to support corps members in skill acquisition.
“Be financially literate because the scheme would not afford to meet the needs of all corps members after service. These are days of little beginning. Don’t despise it,” he added.
In his welcome address, the Osun NYSC Coordinator, Agbor Ndoma Obim, expressed delight over the visit of the NYSC DG and assured him of the readiness of the corps members to serve Nigeria diligently.
Obim disclosed that a total of 2,500 corps members were registered in the camp, comprising 830 males and 807 females deployed to Osun State, and 427 males with 436 females dislodged to Lagos State.
He added that camp activities had commenced in full swing, with the camp clinic opened two days before the official commencement of the orientation course.
The Coordinator reaffirmed the commitment of the corps members to the ideals of the NYSC and said they were prepared to contribute to national development through the one-year mandatory service.
Take service year as civic responsibility, call to nation building — NYSC DG to corpers