NYSC, one of the greatest policies ever conceived in Nigeria, says Atiku

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP , in the February 25 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar has said the establishment of the National Youth Service Youth Corps (NYSC) is one of the greatest policies ever conceived in the country and praised General Yakubu Gowon for introducing ‘this wonderful policy’ for national unification.

Atiku, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe on Sunday to mark the 50th anniversary of the scheme, explained that unity is one of the toughest challenges of our nationhood and the NYSC programme was a major effort towards national integration and unity. The NYSC was founded on 22 May 1973.

According to the PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, “we must acknowledge and give credit to General Yakubu Gowon for introducing this brilliant idea aimed at consolidating national unity after the bitter memories of the tragic Nigerian civil war.”

“Unity which is also my personal agenda as a politician, is essential to building a strong country because a divided country is a weakened country. For decades, our youths and children have been infected with hate and prejudice. “They can’t think for themselves; they judge others unfairly because they didn’t interact with others to understand them. “Interaction with others is one of the best ways to independently and objectively judge them, thereby changing our notions about other people,” Atiku was quoted to have said.

The Wazirin Adamawa acknowledged that “indeed, the NYSC went a long way to neutralise the impact of prejudice through interaction with other people, and in fact, even encouraged intermarriages.”

Atiku particularly paid tribute to General Yakubu Gowon for the effort to introduce NYSC.

“The history of this great policy will be incomplete without a mention of the remarkable role played by Gowon and his administration in the success of this programme.

“Gowon had demonstrated great leadership skills and statesmanship in the adverse consequences of the civil war, one of which included the task of rebuilding national unity,” Atiku stressed.

The former Vice president also called on politicians, religious leaders and other opinion leaders to continue to encourage unity among the people, warning that disunity feeds hate which in turn, feeds conflicts.

“We should at all times make utterances that promote love and unity and avoid statements that stoke up bitter divisions and intolerance,” he added. He, however, called for a review of the mandate of the scheme to reflect the demands of the current reality.

L-R: L-R: Speakership Aspirants of the 10th Assembly, Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, Hon. Muktar Betara and Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji, during the G7 and the Greater-Minority Caucus, set to present consensus candidates for Speakership and Deputy Speakership, at the weekend in Abuja.

Stakeholders applaud UNICEF intervention on personal hygiene to schoolgirls in Adamawa

From Umar Dankano,Yola

Critical stakeholders in education sector have expressed gratitude with the continued support and interventions being rendered by UNICEF in Adamawa state.

Teachers and schoolchildren registered their appreciation during a field visitation by team of UNICEF officials and journalists to some schools in Jada and Guyuk local government areas to observe the impact of the training to curb the incidences of stigmatization, non attendance of school, non adherance to hygiene during menstrual periods and other harmful practices.

The training for the stakeholders was funded by the Netherlands Directorate-General for International CooperationAccelerated Sanitation and Water for All programme ll (DGIS-ASWA

II) in conjunction with UNICEF. Teachers, male and female schoolchildren were trained on the need to adhere to best practices in Adamawa State especially on personal hygiene of female schoolchildren relating to menstruation during school hoursand even at home.

Perceptions on the primitive and negative beliefs on menstruation by female in our societies have been changed with these training as it’s discussion is done in the open not as it used to be in the past.

“But with the UNICEF intervention, stakeholders are now on the same page and discussing the issue freely without any “strings attached”. The outcome according to the stakeholders has become a win-win situation for the growth of education in the area.

“Now, young girls are making money as a result of the training from the new entrepreneurship opportunity owning to their abilities to manufacture reusable menstrual pads locally which is cheaper and can be reused for up to six months”.Opined by a stakeholder.

During a one day field visit to Tsohon Tikke Primary school, one of the schools which benefitted from the trainings by UNICEF, stakeholders regaled the visiting team of reporters how the intervention changed their world views about menstruation completely.

Musa Umar,head teacher of the school noted that the contributions of the partners especially UNICEF can never be over emphasised explaining that what used to be in the dark has been brought to the daylight courtesy of the training as issues surrounding menstruation are freely table in the open.

“In a conservative society such as ours, it was hitherto seen as moral bankruptcy to talk about issues like that. In fact, when the issue was first muted to me I shrank with excitement and fear because I could not see myself, a Fulani man discussing such issue with my students.

“But as it is now the training has led to a seamless relationship between the parents, teachers and the students and whenever any friction arises as a result of misconception, we usually address that amicably in a family way,” he said.

He noted that most of the issues around menstruation especially concerning new starters have been nipped in the bud because of the massive awareness as both students, teachers and parents have built mutual trust on the subject.