- Launches Community Development Service
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The Director General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed, has commended corps members for accelerating development at the grassroots through Community Development Service (CDS).
He made the commendation in his address at the launch of the 2023 CDS Activities and Director-General’s CDS Award held in Abuja on Wednesday.
He enumerated some of the activities carried out through CDS as the construction of school structures, health centres, roads and culverts; provision of water, mentorship of pupils/students in science, technology, arts and information technology through guidance, conduct of quizzes and extra-mural lessons.
The CDS is one of the cardinal programmes of the NYSC, and a platform for corps members to further contribute to national and global development. Under the programme, corps members identify the felt needs of their host communities and work with the inhabitants to mobilize resources for the execution of planned projects.
“The CDS programmes are categorized into three: Individual, Group and Collaborative. They are geared towards accelerating development, especially at the grassroots. Some of the activities carried out include the construction of school structures, health centres, roads and culverts; provision of water as well as the mentorship of pupils/students in science, technology, arts and information technology through guidance, the conduct of quizzes and extra-mural lessons. “Also included are medical outreaches, environmental protection and awareness creation on national and global issues. I am pleased to report that over the years, our youths on National Service have, through the CDS, made an enormous impact on communities all over the country.
“Apart from bridging the imbalance in rural-urban development, their efforts also reawaken stakeholders’ consciousness of the needs of the rural dwellers. Moreover, the CDS activities help in motivating communities to appreciate the importance of self-help efforts as against complete reliance on the Government for the provision of social amenities,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary Federal Capital Territory Administration, Olusade Adeola, said: “The federal government is aware of the great potentials of Nigerian youths as agents of progress and social change, whose roles are critical to the actualisation of our collective quest for greater prosperity.”
“Accordingly, deliberate efforts have been made to harness their potential through various social interventions and economic empowerment programmes. It is gratifying to note that Mr President has unveiled his blueprint for the Nigerian youths.
“Therefore, I am confident that the present administration will accord priority to the NYSC in view of its immense contributions to the overall development of our dear nation,” he said.