Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger state on Monday revealed that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is one of the best legacies of the General Yakubu Gowon administration.
The governor, who made the assertion while speaking at the closing ceremony of Batch ‘C’ orientation in Paiko, said the scheme was aimed at promoting national Unity, Leadership reports.
Aliyu said the scheme has helped to reduce stereotypes and build bridges across ethno-religious cleavages for the promotion of unity and progress of the country.
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“I have always believed that the NYSC program remains one of the best legacies bequeathed for the youths of this country by its founding father – venerable General Yakubu Gowon (former Head of State). This is a valuable scheme that has been the source of unity, integration and understanding among our people,” he said.
Aliyu pleaded with the corps members to allow their service year make them agents of change, adding that the scheme has helped some Nigerians grow beyond discrimination which is usually promoted by uneducated Nigerians.
He further noted that the only groups of people that need to be discriminated against are criminals; insisting that as the service continues to shape the reasoning of Nigerians positively, they should ensure they propagate the culture of peace and collective developmental aspirations.
The governor called on the corps members to be, “vigilant at all times, whether during the service or thereafter. We cannot leave security issues to uniformed people alone.”
It was gathered that 2,520 corps members underwent the orientation including those from Bauchi and Niger states.
Meanwhile, General Yakubu Gowon and General Mohammed Buhari, former heads of Nigeria, visited separately ex-military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) at his hill top mansion, Minna.
The Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, (Retd) has also pleaded with Nigerian Politicians to behave in the right way so as not to put the country’s reputation at risk.
