Corps members celebrate NYSC's 50th Anniversary in Ebonyi

By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.

The serving Corps members in Ebonyi have joined their counterparts across the country to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the State. 

NATIONAL PANEL reports that the Corps members came out in mass on Tuesday with the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs Bamai Mercy Dawuda alongside other officials of the scheme and embarked on a unity walk; chatting pleasantry songs while moving in the streets of Abakaliki metropolitan areas in the company of the security agencies and pressmen in the State. 

Addressing the Corps members at Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, the NYSC Coordinator said, the scheme has been rendering a useful service to the nation for 50 years now, and continued to make headways to promote youth empowerment, socio-economic development and national integration. 

Mrs Bamai noted that the NYSC at its 50 years is still relevant in nation-building following the impactful services rendered by the corps members and their predecessors; however, urged them to sustain the tempo, by promoting the core values of the scheme in advancing the country.

She advocated for the sustenance of the NYSC, contending against every impression to scrap the scheme because, in her words, it has widely contributed to national integration and development in all spheres of human endeavours. 

Further in an interview with newsmen at Akanu Ibiam Flyover, Spera-endo in Abakaliki, the Coordinator attributed the reason behind the celebration of the NYSC 50th Anniversary to the successes already achieved by the scheme within the timeframe. 

She said: "The NYSC has achieved so much, we have to tell Nigerians about our existence for the 50 years, come the 22nd May 2023. 

"NYSC has created a great impact on society, especially on promoting National unity and development in all areas of life including in education, health, and legal, among other sectors.  

"Can you talk about youth empowerment, socio-economic development, and national integration? NYSC has done much in those areas and I'm confident that the scheme will continue to be more relevant as it continues to advance in age."

The Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Ebonyi, Charles Akpuenika, represented by Ben Okike, during the event, commended the conduct of the Corps members and the NYSC staff in the State.

Akpuenika, the Chairman of the State NYSC Board further commended the impacts of the Scheme especially on promoting national integration, cultural breeding and socialisation among Nigerians in different parts of the country since its inception.

Recall that the unity march for the NYSC 50th Anniversary by the Corps members and their officials was observed Tuesday 9th May, in all the five Southeast states including Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo; where the sit-at-home order of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) did not allow them to join their counterparts in other regions to mark the event yesterday, Monday 8th May 2023.