Corps members serving in Bayelsa state weekend marked the 50th year anniversary of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with a unity rally through Yenagoa, the state capital.
The corps members said despite the challenges facing the NYSC scheme over the years, the scheme has remained the champion of national unity, integration and development.
The peace rally which was kicked off at the Peace Park in Yenagoa to mark 50th anniversary celebration nation – wide, witnessed staff and corps members from the state joyfully commending the scheme for its achievements over the years.
Flagging off the rally at the Peace Park, opposite Government House, Yenagoa, the state coordinator, Mrs Okpalifo Obiageli Charity, said the event was part of programmes put together by the directorate headquarters to celebrate the scheme.
She said the theme – NYSC: Five Decades of Fostering National Unity and Integration – was apt as the scheme was established on 22ND May, 1973.
She emphasised that the corps has remained the champion of national unity and integration and enjoined the corps members to uphold the virtues, values and ideals of the NYSC.
She also pointed out that the service since inception has provided quality service to the nation in all sectors of the economy.
She noted the contribution of the corps members in the educational, health, infrastructural and agricultural sectors in the past 50 years and scored the scheme very high in national development.
She expressed delight that through the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), corps members have impacted their host communities, become more self – reliant and have become job creators instead of job seekers.
