The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Monday said the scheme has made significant impact in hard- to- reach communities across the country within its 48 years of existence.
The Gombe state NYSC coordinator, Mrs Ada Imoni, in an interview with newsmen at the temporary orientation camp in Amada community, Gombe state Saturday during a cultural carnival to mark the 48th anniversary of the scheme said they have delivered on their mandate.
Imoni said the impact of the scheme on youth and Nigeria was impressive and had helped to empower youth through skill acquisition programmes which had made them self-reliant.
“NYSC has made a lot of impact within this 48 years of its existence, especially on youth as well as helping to enhance peaceful coexistence and national unity and integration.
“We have delivered so far on our mandate. We have more to do. We have been reforming and we will sustain that reformation to mould our youth with the right kind of national spirit and patriotism.”
Imoni noted that corps members through the scheme had impacted hard-to-reach communities across Nigeria over the years in service to their fatherland and helping to tell the Nigerian story to the grassroots.
“Our teachers and doctors and other corps members of different disciplines have been to several communities to help impact knowledge and improve the health status of rural dwellers, even our response to the COVID-19 pandemic was impressive,” she said.
The state coordinator who objected to the idea of scrapping the scheme said the role of the scheme in promoting national unity and integration, bringing together youth from different backgrounds, ethnic and religious beliefs was helping to foster peaceful coexistence in the country.
Some corps members who spoke to our correspondent said they would wish to serve again if given the opportunity in view of the orientation the scheme was impacting on them.
Richard Peter, a corps member from Oyo state, said coming to Gombe state would have been “impossible had it not been for the NYSC.
“The NYSC is doing well in uniting the diverse cultures of the country. Imagine today, I saw corps members representing the culture of different ethnic groups and they are happy.”
