Former Head of State and founder of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), General Yakubu Gowon, has praised the administrators of the Scheme for maintaining the vision behind its establishment.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the newly appointed Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, at his residence in Asokoro, Abuja, Gowon noted that the Scheme had faced strong opposition from Nigerian students at its inception but had since become a vital tool for national unity, integration, development, job creation, and youth empowerment.
He highlighted the contributions of Corps Members to national development over the past five decades and commended the NYSC’s deployment policy, which allows young graduates to experience different cultures and regions of the country.
Congratulating Brigadier General Nafiu on his appointment, Gowon encouraged him to build on the achievements of his predecessors and advance the Scheme’s impact.
In response, Brigadier General Nafiu described the NYSC as a divine initiative that has positively influenced generations of Nigerians. He expressed gratitude for Gowon’s continued guidance and sought his mentorship.
The NYSC was established in 1973 by the Gowon administration as part of efforts to foster national reconciliation, reconstruction, and rehabilitation following Nigeria’s civil war.
