A university lecturer, Prof. Rotimi Animashaun, says the current insecurity in the country is threatening the laudable objectives of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Animashaun, a professor of the Department of Counselling and Human Development Studies, University of Ibadan (UI), said this at an event to mark the 50 years anniversary of the scheme at the Multi-Purpose Hall, NYSC State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
He said that the overall objectives of the NYSC scheme centred on national unity, self reliance, inclusion and development.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the scheme which was established in 1973, would be 50 years on May 22.
Animashaun spoke on the theme: “NYSC: Five Decades of Fostering National Unity and Development.”
He noted that the objectives of the scheme were being threatened due to insecurity, ethnicity, religion tension and mistrust, among others.
Animashaun said: “many parents do not want their children to go for national youth service at some locations in the country due to ethnicity, bigotry, mistrust, political, economic, cultural and religion tension.”
According to him, if the objectives of the scheme will be achieved, government must take concrete steps to address challenges of insecurity in the country.
Animashaun also urged the government to widen the scope of the scheme to accommodate programmes that would take care of outgoing corps members through provisions of start-ups fund.
This, he said, would enable them to stand on their own after their national youth service programmes.
Also speaking, the Oyo State Coordinator, NYSC, Mr Abel Odoba, said the impact of the NYSC could be felt in every section of the national development due to its relevancy.
Odoba who was represented by the Assistant Director, Corps Inspection and Monitoring, Mrs Olabimpe Olusesi, charged corps members to carry out their responsibilities passionately for the scheme to retain its relevancy.
He urged the corps members to remain good ambassadors of the scheme wherever they found themselves.
The event featured cultural dance presentation by the corps members, lecture, awards for the members of staff of NYSC and selected individuals for their contributions toward growth and development of the scheme.
The 50th anniversary celebration is aimed at showcasing the scheme’s accomplishment over the years.
