Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar has approved the construction of a 5,000-capacity multipurpose hall at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) State Permanent Orientation Camp in Wailo.

A press statement released by the Press Secretary to the Governor, Malam Abubakar Al-Sadique, said that the governor announced the approval on Tuesday while declaring open the 2017 pre-orientation course with the theme ‘evolving strategies to meet the challenges of increase Corps’ population in Bauchi.

The statement further quoted the governor assuring all corps members posted the state of improved welfare, security and safety during their service year, while noting the immense contributions of the scheme to fostering cohesion and national unity.

“Apart from fostering national unity and integration, NYSC has contributed immeasurably to the critical areas of health and education where qualified manpower is lacking particularly in rural areas” Governor Abubakar was quoted in the statement.

The governor therefore charged the course participants to chart meaningful and sustainable ways of accommodating the “ever increasing number of Corps members annually” and called on other Nigerians to support the scheme because of the successes it recorded especially in building bridges across the nation’s cultural, religious and regional divides.

He charged those calling for the abolition the scheme to have a rethink that was the only remaining national programme that truly allow the youth to have a better understanding and appreciation of the greatness that abound in the nation’s diversity.

Governor Abubakar observed that certain difficult challenges over the years have affected the NYSC but explained that the scheme needs everybody’s contribution to live up to expectation.

He also explained that much of the leadership recruitment process in the country starts from the NYSC, saying “future leaders need to have brighter appreciation of the rich, diverse culture which this nation is endowed with. It is only the NYSC programme that gives the opportunity to cross-fertilise ideas and understand untapped opportunities that abound”.

The governor also revealed that most of the friends he has especially from the southern part of Nigeria are those with whom he developed relationship with during his service year in Rivers State nearly four decades ago.

“The former governor of Rivers State still calls me ‘Rivers man’ because since my service year, I have maintained close relationships with those I met there and that greatly helped me and eased my job when I returned to Rivers State years later as Resident Electoral Commissioner,” the governor noted.

Update news