By Abiodun Esan
Ilorin – National Youths Service Scheme (NYSC) members in Kwara on Thursday embarked on a sensitisation and awareness campaign against Lassa Fever, Ebola and other health-related issues to mark the 45th anniversary of the scheme in Ilorin.
Corps members serving in Ilorin South and West Local Governments assembled at the old council secretariat at Pake, Ilorin, where the State Coordinator, Mr Remigus Amaefule, launched the campaign.
Amaefula told corps members at the launch that the NYSC was established in 1973 as a child of circumstance.
“The forefathers of the scheme are watching us today with excitement and joy in their hearts that what they planted some 45 years ago has germinated and growing and yielding good fruit.
“I am aware that corps members from Ilorin South and West local governments are gathered here to commemorate the 45 years of existence of the National Youths Service Corps.
“What we intend to do today is to sensitise our host communities and neighbours in the areas of Lassa Fever, and many health issues afflicting our society.”
According to him, one of the ways to tackle health challenges is to keep the environment clean.
“Cleanliness of our environment is one of the best ways to combat the scourge of health challenges in the society.
“This is the time for you to tell your host communities that apart from your primary assignment, there are other things you can do better.”
He, therefore, told the corps members to consider themselves lucky to be beneficiaries of a scheme that started 45 years ago.
Speaking with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the State Coordinator described the emergence of the NYSC as the best thing that ever happened to Nigeria.
“The idea of the scheme is as good as it was in 1973 when it was established and now in 2018.
“It has had tremendous achievements; it has done a lot of things in all areas of life of Nigerian youths and communities. I think it is the best thing to happen to the country.”
He added that whoever was clamouring for the scrapping of the scheme was an enemy of the country.
According to him, one of the cardinal objectives of the scheme is to unite the country through the youths.
“We are talking of using these youths to unite the country; is there any other thing better than uniting this country? Amaefule asked.
A corps member, Miss Solape Odofin described the scheme as a good avenue to meet youths from other parts of the country.
Odofin, a graduate of English Study from Tai Solarin University of Education, said NYSC had achieved a lot in uniting the country.
She said she was glad to be posted to Kwara, adding that she had met a lot of people and made friends with corps members from other ethnic regions.
(NAN)