The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Yusha'u Ahmed, has announced that he is making significant progress in achieving his five-point policy thrust for the scheme.
Ahmed revealed this during the 4th edition of the DG's Community Development Service Awards and the launch of the 2024 CDS Activities held on Monday in Abuja, themed "Excellence in Action: Celebrating NYSC CDS Success Stories".
The Director General said he would achieve his vision before the end of his tenure as the DG.
The five-point policy thrust focuses on Enhancing security and welfare for corps members and staff, Optimal service delivery to the nation, Fostering an enabling environment for development and research, Strengthening stakeholders' engagement
Ahmed expressed confidence in achieving his vision before the end of his tenure, stating that he has made significant progress and is "more than halfway" towards his targets.
During the event, awards were presented to outstanding beneficiaries in four categories: Best Group CDS, Best Schedule Officers, Best Individual CDS, and Best Collaborative Partners.
Ahmed commended the corps members for their dedication to service and sacrifice, noting that their contributions have transformed them into societal custodians and vanguards.
The winners of the awards included Legal Aid CDS Group (Taraba State), Education and ICT CDS Group (Adamawa State), and NEMA CDS Group (Borno State), Best Collaborative Partners and many others.
Hajiya Zainab Isah,The National Director of the NYSC Community Development Service and Special Projects, in her appreciation expressed gratitude to the DG for his support and passion for the programs.
Among his five-point policy thrust, as outlined by the DG are to improve the security and welfare of corps members and staff, engender optimal service delivery to the nation, provide an enabling environment for development and research for the advancement of the scheme, and strengthen stakeholders’ engagement for the promotion of the frontiers of the scheme.
Ahmed said he had gone “more than halfway” in the targets he set for himself, adding that he would achieve it before the end of his tenure.
“I’ve not met up, but I’m making steady progress, and we will continue to do that. You know I’m just one year, six months now. We are more than halfway out of the target I have set for myself, very progressive development, and we have gone far. We will achieve it before the end of my tenure, God’s willing”, he said.
The DG who spoke extensively on the awards during his address said ‘the programme reinforces our hope of a brighter future for the country given the immense sense of devotion to service and sacrifice for which these young men and women are being recognised.
“The contributions of the corps members to the development of their host communities in the areas of health, education, agriculture as well as advocacy on development issues have undoubtedly transformed them into societal custodians and vanguards, which are the salient qualities of visionary leaders”, he stated.
However, among the people groups who bagged the various awards, Legal Aid CDS Group (Taraba State), Education and ICT CDS Group (Adamawa State), and NEMA CDS Group (Borno State), won the awards for the Best CDS Groups in third, second and first place, respectively.
In the Best CDS Schedule Officers category, Ituma Omenka (Ebonyi State) won third place, Mr Mohammed Maunde (Borno State) won second place and Mr Buhari Karaye (Katsina State), claimed first place.
For Best Individual CDS, Matthew Maxwell Ohiare (Edo) and Akwuobi Ebuka Stephen (Taraba) both tied for third place, and Abdullahi Alhaji Nuhu came in second place, while, Wisdom Wealth Nduchika (FCT) came in first place.
In addition, Best Collaborative Partners awards were given toOnyebuchi Chris Ifediora Foundation (third), the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (second) and Jobberman Nigeria (first).
Speaking earlier, the National Director of the NYSC Community Development Service and Special Projects, Hajiya Zainab Isah, thanked the DG for “exhibiting passion and support for all our programmes”, as well as the Directors, State Coordinators, Heads of CDS and the corps members for their various contributions.
