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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Abia State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Yunusa Tanimu, has urged corps members to remain committed to national unity and resist ethnic, religious, and other divisive tendencies.
Tanimu equally advised corps members against the growing inclination among young Nigerians to seek opportunities abroad, popularly described as “Japa”, stressing that they should not regard migration as the only pathway to success.
The Abia State coordinator of the NYSC stated these during the passing out ceremony of 854 corps members who completed their one-year national service in the state.
While acknowledging the challenges confronting the country, he said Nigeria’s problems also created opportunities for young people capable of developing practical solutions.
Tanimu urged young Nigerians to turn the skills and experience acquired during their compulsory national service into leadership, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving opportunities, rather than seeing migration as the only route to a better future.
He was of the view that the end of the service year should mark the beginning of a more demanding phase of national responsibility for the corps members.
He told the outgoing corps members they should no longer regard themselves as “leaders of tomorrow”, stressing that leadership responsibilities had already begun.
“What you have done in the last one year should be seen as a test run for even greater service, and I enjoin you to deploy your abilities to solve problems and create value wherever you find yourselves.
Tanimu commended the corps members for their contributions to education, healthcare, agriculture, technology and other sectors during the service year, particularly through their places of primary assignment and Community Development Service (CDS) projects.
He advised those seeking formal employment to strengthen their professional profiles, acquire relevant certifications, and develop digital skills that could improve their competitiveness.
Tanimu said the expanding digital economy offered significant opportunities for young Nigerians, particularly those able to apply technology to sectors such as education, agriculture, commerce, and other areas of economic activity.
The coordinator, however, cautioned the corps members against assuming that the completion of national service guaranteed immediate white-collar employment, urging them to prepare for a highly competitive labour market.
