AT a time when many Nigerians are calling for the scrapping of the mandatory stipulated one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme for graduates from the nation's tertiary institutions, owing to the killing of some corps members during the 2011 post-election violence in the northern part of the country, some corps members are taking giant strides at making life better in their places of primary assignment.Because of the unwarranted killings that occured after the elections, there have been plenty of outcries from various quarters, calling on the Federal Government to either scrap the programme or reform it by posting eligible graduates to their home states, so as to minimise the dangers posed.While the government is yet to decide on the general outcry, the NYSC programme has continued and some corps members have gone ahead to distinguish themselves in their places of primary assignments.One of them is Anita Elebesunu, a Mass Communication graduate of the University of Port Harcourt. When Elebesunu was posted to the ancient city of Ibadan, she was not too happy about it. Having never travelled so far from home before. She was a bit worried about the distance. Reluctantly, she made her way down to the Oyo State capital and was later posted to the Federal Radio Coporation of Nigeria (FRCN), otherwise called Radio Nigeria, Ibadan for her primary assignment. There, she worked at the News Department of the station and when the stipulated one year service time lapsed, she took a step further by renovating some key areas of the massive office complex." I wanted to leave a legacy and reinstate the commitment of corps members in ensuring that confidence can be reposed in the youths and graduates of this country once more. It is not all about money, we still have hard working and dedicated youths around," she said.Asked why she decided to redecorate the entire reception floor and donate water dispensers, tables and window blinds to all the offices of the News Department of the FRCN, Elebusun said that she believed that she was compelled to give back to the society, as she had gained so much experience during her service year, adding that the NYSC programme must not be scrapped."It is a great experience that one must have in order to become a complete graduate. I left Rivers State to come here and I have no regrets. I have had so much fun and gained even better experience than if I had served at home. I encourage Nigerians to keep the goals of the NYSC alive.At the ceremony held in her honour by the FRCN, the Zonal Director, Dada Ogundele, represented by the Deputy Director (News), Mr Lere Afolabi, in his speech, commended Elebesunu for her gesture. He acknowledged that it was the first time that a corps member would embark on such a project in the establishment through self efforts, adding that besides adding value to the Ibadan zonal office, her contribution was a demonstration of the unlimited potential of Nigerian youths as future leaders to rise to the challenges of nation building.He encouraged corps members across the country to take a cue from Elebesunu's exemplary standards and contribute their quota to the development of the nation.
Click here to read full news..
