Fides Media Living the Faith
By Adejumoke Alebiosu
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has premiered the movie: ‘Call to Service’ to promote national unity. Its Director-General, Brig Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim said the movie was part of an ongoing effort to promote patriotism, peace, and cohesion in the country.
He said the movie will give opportunities for corps members to develop their potentials.
The DG said: ‘NYSC, for long, has become a household name in Nigeria, owing to its invaluable contributions to national unity and development.
‘In particular, its roles in the training and mentoring of the youth in preparation for their future leadership responsibilities have been appreciated by all and sundry.
‘Successive managers of NYSC have taken various measures aimed at sustaining public support for the Scheme. We not only make it responsive to contemporary national needs but also ensure adequate publicity for our programmes and achievements.
‘The movie we have unveiled is part of the innovative approaches of the present Management to engendering a greater appreciation of the relevance of the Scheme.
‘It is an advocacy and sensitisation tool that is also expected to influence the greater commitment of stakeholders to their roles and responsibilities as spelt out in the NYSC Act Cap N84 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and the NYSC Bye-Laws.
‘In particular, it will encourage local and foreign-trained Nigerian graduates that are eligible for National Service to immediately make themselves available for the service upon graduation as well as avoid infractions such as absenteeism, abscondment and Certificate forgery.
‘I am pleased to inform this distinguished audience that most of the actors in the movie were serving Corps members at the time of its production. Indeed, the film was produced by a corps member, Jairus Paul Osazuwa.
‘This is in line with our policy of providing opportunities for corps members to develop their potentials. It is in this regards that we established the NYSC movie production platform, which we christened NYSCwood.’
He commended all stakeholders in the public and private sector who have made invaluable contributions towards the success of the movie through sponsorship as well as other gestures such as usage of institutional facilities, amongst other.
Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, said the NYSC initiative, established years ago by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) remained an answer to different challenges of Nigeria.
According to the minister, if you are looking for an answer to potentials, quality, discipline, and focus of our youths, corps members answer all.
‘All corps members represent strength of the country; they represent vitality and promise of a present and future that is certain.
‘The timing of this movie couldn’t have been better, after months of debate about whether the NYSC was relevant or not, whether it should die, thrown out or continue.
‘The answer to the critic and anti-NYSC is this movie, that is why this movie must travel, the message must go viral, strong and clear that NYSC has come to stay, that the scheme is more relevant than before.
‘This movie, without a doubt, will rally support for the scheme, it will help us in getting the proposed scheme trust fund initiative. We will not spare any resources to make sure this movie delivers its message to the world,’ he said.