Akpan Umoh, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs Chinyere Ekwe, has said that the scheme remains a rally point for young Nigerians and symbol of unity for the past 48 years.
Ekwe said this during the celebration marking the 48th anniversary of NYSC at the permanent orientation camp, Ikot Itie Udung Nsit Atai on Saturday.
She said that the NYSC scheme which was established since 1973 has been bringing youth across the country from different religion, culture, and background, stressing that the scheme has lived up the expectation of the founding fathers.
“NYSC is a strong pillar that unites the entire nation. You can see so many corps members here, they come from diverse culture and ethnic groups, but, once they come for service they do not care about where anyone comes from, they are always united in everything they do.
“They do not care about the ethnicity, religion and culture, they are all one. So, the unity of Nigeria must continue, in NYSC we promote unity and say no to division. It is a rally point of young people in Nigeria,” Ekwe said.
Ekwe said that the unity of the country regardless some challenges confronting nation was still intact through the scheme, stressing that the unity would continue to exist no matter some differences.
She said the significance of this year’s celebration was unity of Nigeria, adding that NYSC was uniting the whole country, making young people come together to bring unity, prosperity, and oneness in the country.
Speaking to corps members, Miss Chinasa Mba, a graduate of Theatre Art and Film study, University of Nigeria Nsuka, expressed happiness for the scheme in binding the nation together.
Mba expressed displeasure over those calling for the scraping of the scheme, adding that it would bring the country backward.
Another corps member, Mr Madaki Baba, Computer Engineering graduate of Federal University of Technology, Minna, said that the scheme has enabled him to contribute his quota to the society through training of students and teachers on computer literacy in his place of primary assignment.
“It is a privilege serving Nigeria this time, and I feel that this nation needs to be more united because the vision of NYSC is nation building and unity,” he said.
Baba said that all Nigerians must continue to tolerate each other as one entity, because living in disunity will not help the country move forward.