By Awayi Kuje
Lafia – The Northern Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has invested a leadership award on Mr Bala Joshua, the Commandant, Nigerian Peace Corps (NPC), Nasarawa State command.
The council appreciated Joshua as an icon of nation building for promoting peace and embarking on youths oriented programmes.
Joshua told newsmen on Thursday in Lafia after receiving the award that he would continue to initiate positive policies and programmes that have direct bearing on the lives of youths and Nigeria at large.
He thanked the council for recognising his efforts at nation building, adding that the award will spur him to do more especially in the areas of youths and less privileged oriented programmes.
The commandant said that the organisation was established to ensure peaceful co-existence among Nigerians as well as to fight the high rate of unemployment among youths.
“Today, the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria conferred on me, Sir Ahmadu Bello Platinum Leadership Award as Garkuwan Matasan Arewa/Icon of Nation Building. I dedicate this award to my boss and all peace lovers in Nigeria.
“I don’t know how it come about, but I have received it in good faith with total humility and I promised to continue to initiate good policies and programmes that have direct bearing on the lives of Nigerians.
“I also thank the good effort of my mentor, Amb. Dr Dickson Akoh, for giving me and many others the platform to showcase our potentials toward impacting positively on the lives of youths.
According to him, “as I always said that assent to Peace Corps Bill would not only fight the high rate of unemployment in the country, but would also help the corps to synergise with other security agencies across the country in the area of conflict resolution strategy.
“The bill will also promote peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.’’
Joshua however advised youths and other Nigerians to always shun violence and embrace peace irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political affiliation for the overall development of the country.
Earlier, Mr Isa Abubakar, the NYCN President, said that they have decided to award the state’s commandant considering his contributions towards improving the lives of Nigerians.
Abubakar, represented by Mr Sabo Christopher, the state Coordinator of the organisation said that the commandant had performed credibly well in the areas of peace promotion, empowerment of youths and less privileged in the society.
The president of the council also said that the commandant had distinguished himself by keying into people oriented programmes, adding that the award was given based on assessment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that apart from community and health services, the corps offered financial assistance to orphans and patients.
The corps also paid WAEC and school fees for orphans as well as fines for the release of over 11 inmates, among other humanitarian interventions.
NAN recalls that the corps in the state spent N5.5 million to register and train 200 Nasarawa youths on online business transaction on Jan. 4, to empower them economically. (NAN)