By Mohammed Mohammed
President Muhammadu Buhari has granted automatic employment to 65 former members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the Federal Civil Service.
The President who made the pronouncement on Thursday,
at the President’s NYSC Honours Award Ceremony held at the State House Conference Centre stated that, of the 65 recipients, 52 received the Presidential Honours Awards, while the remaining 13 were physically challenged ex-Corps Members, recognised under the NYSC Hope Alive Programme.
President Buhari in addition awarded them scholarships to pursue their education up to the Doctorate degree level at any University of their choice within the country.
He further announced a cash prize of N250,000 for each of the top award winners and N200,000 for other award recipients, including the physically challenged ex-Corps members.
The President who directed the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Federal Civil Service Commission and the Minister of Education to ensure adherence to the employment offer and the granting of scholarship also paid glowing tribute to the founding father of the Scheme, General (Dr.) Yakubu Gowon, who not only envisioned the idea of the Corps, but equally brought it to fruition on 22nd May, 1973.
According to him, the scheme has justified the reason for its establishment as an interventionist agency, with the core mandate to build bridges of national unity, across the length and breadth of the country, thereby pulling down walls of ethnic suspicions and divisions
He commended the corps members for their indelible roles in ensuring unity and stability in the country, especially the role they played in the 2023 recently concluded General Elections.
It is very appropriate to also add: “That we cannot achieve any meaningful development in the face of needless and avoidable crises, with the youth as the purveyors, when they hold a higher stake in Nigeria more than the older adults.
“Youth, the future belongs to you. Therefore, it behoves you to protect your future by safeguarding Nigeria, in words and deeds.
“My dear patriotic youth it is worthwhile to counsel that you do not yield to the centrifugal forces, acting either covertly or overtly, to undermine the country structurally, politically and economically. Doing otherwise is akin to fuelling the truncation of your future.”
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, commended President Buhari for his commitment towards the promotion of Youth related activities for a better Nigeria, especially his approval of the N75 billion Nigerian Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme (P-YES), National Young Farmers Scheme (NYFS) as well as other supportive ventures aimed at empowering the youth of our country
While congratulating the awardees, he called on other Corps members to key into the opportunities provided through various government initiatives to develop themselves for self reliance as well as contribute to the socio-economic development of the nation.