The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Yusha’u Ahmed (rtd.) has said that he is making ‘steady progress’ in his five-point policy thrust for the scheme, adding that he would achieve his vision before the end of his tenure.
Ahmed stated this while speaking to pressmen at the fourth edition of the DG’s Community Development Service Awards and the launch of the 2024 CDS Activities, held in Abuja on Monday, themed “Excellence in Action: Celebrating NYSC CDS Success Stories”.
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 also presented awards to deserving beneficiaries across four categories: Best Group CDS, Best Schedule Officers, Best Individual CDS, and Best Collaborative Partners.
Speaking on the awards during his address, the DG 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.
Meanwhile, 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.
Onyebuchi Chris Ifediora Foundation (third), the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (second) and Jobberman Nigeria (first) were awarded as the Best Collaborative Partners.
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.
