Lagos, May 9, 2023 – Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos has tasked undergraduates on good grades and commitment to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) put in place to improve their future.
Sanwo-Olu gave the advice on Monday after the ‘Unity Walk’ held to mark the 50th anniversary of the NYSC in Lagos.
The ‘Unity Walk’ took off from NYSC Secretariat on Babs Animashun Street, Surulere, through Bode Thomas to the National Stadium.
During the walk, excited corps members and NYSC management team led by Mrs Yetunde Baderinwa, the Lagos Coordinator, and officials of Glowhite Cosmetics, makers of 2Black Hair Care Cream (sponsors of the event), danced along the route.
Sanwo-Olu said that over the years NYSC had brought youths from different background, upbringing, culture, religion and ethnic group together during the service year as one people and nation.
According to him, NYSC is something to be proud of and those of us that are part of this celebration here in Lagos which is also simultaneously happening across the nation, have made history.
“Graduates with good grades, because the labour market is becoming more and more competitive, you need to have a skill as backup to build and prepare for the future.
“A lot of youths complain of lack of jobs, but again during the NYSC orientation and service year, they are equipped and empowered with different skills and the ideology is to be able to empower them to be masters of their own.
Sanwo-Olu said that NYSC had been a long journey that started in 1973 and “it’s been going on, some of our parents went through it, we went through it and it’s our prayers that our children too should go through it.”
“Some of us get married in the course of this NYSC activities, it’s fostering a lot of unity and that is what we’ll continue to build on to become one better Nigeria for us to dwell in.
Mobolaji Ogunlende, the Special adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, who represented the governor, described the Lagos State governor as “a youth-friendly governor who takes delight in such activities dear to the heart.”
Ogunlende, who doubles as the Chairman, NYSC Governing Board, Lagos State, while congratulating the body for sustaining the scheme for five decades, said: ‘I am happy, excited and humbled to be part of NYSC at 50.
“It’s a week-long of activities which have started with this Unity Walk, there is going to be award dinner night and lectures, among others,” he added.
Baderinwa, in her remark, said that NYSC had lived up to expectations in driving the wheel of national unity which had remained a strong tool for social-economic development of the country.
According to her, “we are celebrating unity, friendship, awareness and all that NYSC stands for youths to explore that which they have inside for the good and growth of our nation Nigeria.
“The message is for us to be positive, united and make meaningful contributions in wherever we find ourselves, stay united as one and as much as we can take away religious, ethnic bigotry or any division that will be detrimental to the united force of Nigeria and that is what we stand for in NYSC,” she said.
Mr Anthony Obika, the Regional Head of Glowhite Cosmetics, makers of 2Black Hair Cream and Styling Gel Plus, who are partners of event, said the company decided to identify with the NYSC because of its contributions in diverse ways in Lagos communities and environment.
Obika said the company had concluded arrangement to offer job to 20 corps members, adding that ‘we are here to celebrate with NYSC on its 50th anniversary and to support the corps members through employment.
“We are happy with the services they are rendering here in Lagos; They are doing everything with one mind in spite of tribes and we are impressed with the Lagos Coordinator and her team,” he said. (GBN)
