NYSC coordinator urges corps members not to ‘japa’

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Ekiti State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, Abdullahi Shuaibu, has advised corps members against relocating abroad in search of better opportunities, urging them to remain committed to Nigeria’s development.

Shuaibu gave the warning in Ado-Ekiti on Friday during activities marking the 53rd anniversary of the NYSC scheme nationwide.

The coordinator encouraged corps members to embrace entrepreneurship and skills acquisition programmes to become self-reliant and employers of labour.

According to him, Nigeria still possesses enormous human and natural resources capable of transforming the economy if properly harnessed by the younger generation.

He said abandoning the country because of present economic challenges would not solve its problems, insisting that patriotic youths must contribute to nation-building.

“The moment you run away because of the situation of the country, you are a coward. Anybody who believes in Nigeria will stay here and see how we can mend our errors,” he said.

Shuaibu added that the NYSC scheme was established to raise productive youths capable of creating opportunities for themselves rather than depending solely on white-collar jobs.

He also hailed corps members serving in Ekiti State for impacting their host communities through health outreaches, educational support initiatives, environmental sanitation campaigns and other community development projects.