General Gowon Commends NYSC for Upholding Its Founding Vision

• General Yakubu Gowon, founding father of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), praised the scheme’s management for sustaining its original vision.

• Gowon acknowledged early resistance from Nigerian students when the NYSC was launched in 1973 but highlighted its evolution into a nationally accepted institution.

• NYSC recognized for its role in national unity, integration, job creation, and youth empowerment.

• Gowon praised the NYSC’s deployment policy, which fosters cultural exchange by posting corps members outside their home states.

• Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, the newly appointed NYSC Director General, pledged to build on his predecessors’ legacies and sought Gowon’s mentorship.

Former Head of State and founder of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), General Yakubu Gowon, has commended the scheme’s leadership for maintaining the vision that led to its creation over 50 years ago.

Gowon made these remarks during a courtesy visit by the newly appointed NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, at his residence in Asokoro, Abuja. In a statement issued by NYSC Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, Gowon reflected on the initial opposition the scheme faced when it was introduced in 1973 but emphasized its transformation into a critical institution for national unity, integration, and youth empowerment.

He praised the NYSC’s deployment policy, which ensures that corps members are posted to states outside their regions, helping them experience diverse cultures and strengthen national cohesion. He also acknowledged the contributions of corps members to national development over the past five decades.

Encouraging Brigadier General Nafiu to build on the achievements of his predecessors, Gowon urged him to take the NYSC to greater heights. In response, Nafiu described the NYSC as a “divine project” that has significantly benefited the country. He also expressed gratitude for Gowon’s continued support and sought his mentorship as he leads the scheme forward.