From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
A member of the National Youth Service Year Corps (NYSC) deployed to Plateau State, Mr. Martins Bassey, has built and donated a 3-classroom block to the Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School at Rangarasang, Rantya in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The classrooms and two offices, constructed at the cost of N6.5 million was unveiled and commissioned by the Deputy Governor of Plateau state, Mrs Josephine Piyo.
Speaking on the occasion, the deputy governor, who was represented by the Ag. Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Universal; Basic Education Board (PSUBEB), Mr. Sunday Samuel Amuna, said that the project was part of the vision of those who conceived the idea of a one year mandatory national youth service for graduates of tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
He said that those who had advocated for the scrapping of the scheme would now have a rethink because the advantages far outweighed the disadvantages.
Amuna said he participated in the scheme in 1990 where he took part in the construction of the Akwa Ibom state secretariat, adding that today Bassey had reciprocated by building classroom blocks in Plateau.
Amuna said, “Because of the security situation in the country, some people had conceived the idea of abrogating the national youth service scheme, but today we have seen the dividends. NYSC is the only scheme that unites the Nigerian youths from every part of the country and I don’t think that with what Martins has done, any person will think of scrapping it. Today we have every reason to continue with the NYSC scheme”
He described the donor as a visionary leader, whose name will be permanently etched in the history of the community.
The PSUBEB Secretary recalled that the Corper passed out last year but because of the passion he had for the project, he stayed back to complete it. He promised to post teachers to the school as well providing chairs in the classrooms.
Chairman Building Committee, Sunday Damboyi, described Martins Bassey as an exemplary youth leader, saying that “God sent him to this community because God knows that our children need a good learning environment. When he came here he saw the need of the only community school, which is a classrooms. He made it a duty to leave his name in the footprint of time by erecting this legacy project. It’s not every Corper that can put up a project like this. We will never forget him
Head teacher, Jessica Luka Kyemang, expressed gratitude to Bassey that despite the harsh conditions he was able to accomplish the task. She asked the government to come to the aid of the school as the school needs more classrooms for a good learning environment.
The Community Leader, Da Dalyop Pam Pwol, said that the history of the community will not be written without Bassey’s name in gold. “I know the troubles he went through but he persevered. At a point I told him that if I were him, I would have given up. But I am happy today that this project has become a reality.
Pwol appreciated his fellow Corps members who assisted him by fetching water, carrying blocks and so on, stressing , “They removed their uniforms to ensure that they assisted to their colleagues. Poor road.
He appealed to the state government to assist in providing more teachers and building toilets as well reconstructing the road leading to the community.
The Corps member described the ceremony as a momentous and historic occasion, saying that he was fulfilled by the completion of the project, which he said cost N6.5 million.
Bassey said, “This building stands as a testament to the power of strong desire for social change, collective effort, determination, persistence, consistency, perseverance, total trust in God and the unwavering belief in the transformative power of education.
Education has always been close to my heart, because accessing education while growing up as a child in a rural community in Akwa Ibom State, was a bit difficult for me. Having realised that education is the only key to unlocking the potential within each individual and building a brighter future for our community, I became an ardent advocate for quality education at the University of Uyo.
He commended the NYSC for providing the platform, the Community Development Service (CDS) platforms where his vision was birthed.
Narrating how he raised the funds, Bassey said he launched the fundraising campaign titled “OneManOneBlock4Education in order to embark on this mission, adding, “God helped me raise individuals and organisations who supported and donated as common as One Block, One Bag of Cement, two and more for us to commence this project from the foundation to the lintel level before my pass out from the NYSC in July 2022.
“Even at a point, when I was asked to handover the project to the serving Corp Member or Groups to complete it, in order to get Nomination for Presidential Honour Award, my conviction and strong faith in God towards finishing this project could not assent to such good offer.
“But persisted and resisted all the talk-down syndromes and discouragements. Leveraging the vast opportunities on the social media and internet, God helped me to secure partnerships and collaborations from the Africa Education Partnership, Selfless4Africa and Universal Basic Education Commission, the Future Africa Leaders Foundation having been rejected by several individuals and organisations.