The founder father of the National Youth Service Corps and former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon has inaugurated the NYSC Television and Radio Stations domiciled at the National Directorate Headquarters of the Scheme in Maitama, Abuja.
Speaking at the ceremony, Gowon said the media outfits would contribute towards enhancing and sustaining the capacity of the Scheme to consolidate its achievements, as well as reach out to its global audience.
He added that they would also serve as veritable tools for driving the quest for national unity, cohesion and purposeful development.
General Gowon who commended NYSC Management for the achievement also urged them to sustain the tempo of its on-going strides, which have kept the Scheme in the national and global limelight.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that the Scheme has in almost five decades of its existence successfully harnessed the potentials of our graduate youths as models for defining patriotism, credible and quality leadership, as well as economic regeneration.
I am always delighted to note that Corps Members have continued to render patriotic and selfless services to our dear country, especially as active participants in the implementation of national programmes such as elections, immunization, population census, advocacies on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers and HIV/AIDS campaign amongst others.
It is my sincere hope that these and other achievements would be given the widest publicity by the NYSC Radio and Television Stations, in order to elicit increased support from the general public”, Gowon said.
Speaking further, he appealed for public support for the establishment of NYSC Trust Fund which promises to be a game-changer for the NYSC, graduate youths and the Nigerian economy.
He said, “l would like to appeal to all and sundry to give more support to the Scheme in its arduous task of promoting national unity, integration and development in line with our vision”.
In his address at the ceremony, the NYSC Director-General, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim said the establishment of NYSC Radio and Television Stations is part of the whole gamut of activities designed to further advance the cause of the Scheme.
He added that the NYSC Radio broadcasts on Channel 88.3FM in Abuja while the NYSC Television runs on TStv Channel 365.
“The philosophy behind the establishment of these stations is multifaceted. They will educate and entertain, give the Scheme a stronger voice to propagate its programmes and sensitize Nigerians on government policies, in addition to the promotion of national unity.
They will contribute in redirecting the mindset of Nigerians, especially the youth, towards things that are noble. They are also meant to provide an avenue to train and hone the skills of successive batches of Corps Members interested in pursuing careers in the broadcast industry, particularly in the areas of production, TV/Radio Engineering, programme presentation, graphic design, content development, among others”, he added.
The DG noted that the NYSC in almost forty-nine years has continued to provide successive batches of Corps Members with the requisite platforms to make meaningful contributions to national development in various aspects of national life, such as unity and integration, education, health, infrastructure, participation in national elections, advocacies on social engineering and agriculture..
General Ibrahim commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his immeasurable support to the Scheme, adding that the sustained provision of resources for the Scheme’s operations and the latest gesture of approving and issuing Radio license to the Corps are clear demonstrations of his abiding faith in the NYSC Scheme.
“Permit me to use this opportunity to thank His Excellency, General Yakubu Gowon GCFR, Members of the National Assembly, the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development and other Nigerians for expressing support for the proposed NYSC Trust Fund, which is at advanced stage of legislation.
I am confident that with the progress made so far and with your sustained support, it will not be long before the Trust Fund finally comes to fruition”, the DG said.
The Director, Press and Public Relations, Mr Eddy Megwa in his address said both the radio and television stations would tremendously boost the visibility of the Scheme in the media space both locally and internationally, adding that they would also project and amplify the achievements of the Scheme.
Megwa stated that the stations would be effectively run and maintained for the promotion of the brand NYSC which has been pivotal in fostering national unity and development in almost 49 years.
There were goodwill messages from the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Isma’il Abubakar, NYSC National Governing Board Chairman, Ambassador Fatima Balla Abubakar, represented by a member of the Board, Alhaji Yusuf Nalado.
Other dignitaries that were present at the ceremony include the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Farouk Yahaya, who was represented by Major General PP Mallah.
