Director General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General M.K Fadah, on Tuesday, in Kaduna State, warned the scheme members to shun any act capable of tarnishing their image, but build on the skills they have learnt during their orientation in order to become self-reliant.
The Director General, who was represented by the Kaduna State NYSC coordinator, Mr Abel Odoba Oche, stated this during the closing ceremony of the orientation course organized for members of the 2022 Batch B (Stream 2) NYSC members posted to Kaduna State.
According to him, the skills they have learnt would avail them the chance of becoming self-independent since there are no Government jobs
Speaking earlier, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who was represented by his deputy, Hadiza Balarabe, said Nigeria cannot afford another civil war, advising the youths to distance themselves from fanning embers of violence and war in the country.
According to him, the civil war was a needless savagery that Nigeria cannot afford to repeat.
He said Nigeria does not want a repeat of the 1967 civil war, adding that the youth must remember that the NYSC came into being after the civil war that tore every fabric of the Nigerian state.
He further added that, “As a country, we must avoid a repeat of that dark part of our history. And Nigerian youths must refuse to be ready tools for war mongers.
The governor further explained that the corps members have the capacity to defend what is good for the country and what will build a united Nigeria, adding that corps members should not fail to do what is right for Nigeria, stressing that the major objective of establishing the NYSC is to promote unity and enhance development.
He said the scheme is a reflection of the hope placed on young graduates as bearers of a greater Nigeria, adding that as representatives of the youths who are the majority in Nigeria, the corps members must shun corruption during the 2023 polls and be responsible citizens who would be said to have risen to the occasion when they were most needed.
“The youths constitute 71 per cent of the 12 million fresh applicants for Permanent Voters Card in the just-concluded Continuous Voter Registration exercise,” he said.
According to him, he expects more youths to participate in the 2023 general elections, saying they will be engaged as presiding officers during the polls.
