NYSC @ 50: DIPLOMAT CANVASSES MORE FUNDING, INCREASED CORPS ALLOWANCES
Amidst the celebration of its golden jubilee anniversary, an appeal has been made for the National Youth Service Corps on more funding in order to address it’s operations and make all Orientation Camps nationwide well-equipped.
A retired Diplomat, Ambassador Martine Gereng-Sen made this remark today in her presentation at the NYSC National Governing Board Retreat held in Abuja.
She also said there’s the need to increase Corps Members’ monthly allowances.
The Ambassador, who disclosed that the achievements recorded by the NYSC in the past fifty years are enormous added that the Scheme should be made to be continuously relevant.
“The NYSC has achieved commendable milestones that have shown that the Scheme has met some of the objectives of its establishment.
The Scheme has made Corps Members to have the sense of togetherness, oneness, friendship and brotherhood among Nigerian youths, irrespective of cultural and social backgrounds.
Emboldened by the high profile achievements recorded by the NYSC in the past fifty years, l lend my support for the advocacy of the Scheme”, she said.
The retired career ambassador lauded the NYSC for providing employment opportunities for Corps Members through its Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme with support from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bank of Industry (BOI), Heritage Bank, Access Bank and other stakeholders.
She commended NYSC Managers for creating employment opportunities for Corps Members such as, “NYSC Ventures, Livestock Feedmill, Garri Processing Factory, Garment Factories, Water Factory, NYSC Printing Press, and NYSC Radio and TV Stations”.
Martine, who recalled her youth service days in Lagos in 1981 disclosed that her NYSC experience afforded her the opportunity of knowing cultures of different ethnic groups on the Southern part of the country, and also enabled strong bond of friendship.
Speaking further during her presentation, Ambassador Martine hailed the NYSC for promoting national unity, building and consumating inter-tribal marital relationships among Nigerians.
She lauded the patriotic spirit of the Corps Members who displayed selfless services in their host communities through the provision of Community Development Service projects like roads, schools, drilling of boreholes, installation of street lights, construction of restrooms and culverts, among others which has impacted positively.
“Ex-Corps Members have established their own hospitals like in Adamawa State, there are three of such institutions, Peace Hospital, Yola, Sunshine Clinic, Ganye and Biyama Clinic in Mubi. The proprietors served as Corps Members in Adamawa State and decided not to return to their States of Origin”, she stated.
