The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, has inaugurated a 13-member committee for the President’s NYSC Honours Award National Selection.
At the inauguration on Tuesday in Abuja, Ahmed said that the award which was instituted in 1974 was to encourage corps members to contribute to the overall national development through the programmes of the scheme.
“The award is to serve as motivation for hard work and reward for excellence among the corps members. Since its commencement, 1,426 ex-corps members have so far received the award, which is usually conferred by the President.”
According to Ahmed, the selection process is based on the assessment of corps members’ performance in all the major programmes of the NYSC.
The activities include orientation course, primary assignment, community development service, as well as winding-up and passing-out activities.
Also, other personal qualities such as sense of duty, drive, determination, initiative, resourcefulness, leadership traits, discipline and teamwork are taken into consideration.
He also said that the integrity of the selection process would determine the public acceptance of the eventual winners.
“On this premise, and given the caliber of personalities on this committee, I am confident that the outcomes of the impending screening and selection exercise will be credible.
“Being the highest body saddled with the evaluation of the performance and selection of corps members for the award, this committee is expected to improve on the standards already set.
“As you embark on this round of selection process, I implore you to approach the task dispassionately.
“This is because management expects the emergence of candidates who, by all standards, will be acceptable by all.”
The Director, Corps Welfare and Health Services, Mr Ayodele Omotade, said that since the inception of the scheme in 1973, the award, has consistently been sustained over the years.
This, he said, has significantly, placed the scheme on a higher pedestal above other government agencies in terms of giving back to the youths who have distinguished themselves in service to fatherland.
He, however, said that in recent years, there has been a significant increase in corps population and the proportionate increase in the number of award nominees.
“Beside, this committee will be dealing with backlog of arears occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic which disrupted normal NYSC operations in 2020 and most part of 2021.
“Our major assignment will be consideration and selection of nominees from 2020 Batches ‘A’ and ‘B’, 2021 Batches ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’, and 2022 Batches ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ service years.”
The Vice Chancellor, University of Benin and Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Lilian Salami, sad that as persons with integrity, they are committed to a free and fair selection process.
She said those that would be selected are graduands who have proven themselves and have the innate responsibility to develop the country.
“So we must, in our own ways celebrate them. Also, they become mentors of others and a motivating factor for others who are watching them.”
(NAN)
