The National Youth Service Corps has unveiled the maiden edition of the Director-General's Community Development Service Award, during which Corps Members and Staff were rewarded for outstanding performance in the sphere of Community Development Service.
The awardees include the Overall best position; Oduma Fidelis Mbam AD/19C/2164, second best - Ibrahim Iyanu Lydia PL/19B/3818 and third best - Shittu Iyanuoluwa Moyinoluwa - BN/19A/0226.
In the Staff category are; best CDS Officer, Rita Alo, (Engine, Gender Vanguard and Charity CDS Group FCT), second best, Mrs Ezinne Olanma Uguru, (Engine, Drink IQ and Youth Empowered for Success (YES) CDS Groups (Lagos), while the third best went to Mrs Hebron Demsa, (Gender Vanguards and Charity CDS Groups from Adamawa State.
The occasion was also used to launch Community Development Service Activities for 2021.
The Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim during the award presentation, said Corps Members have made enormous impact in communities all over the country, with their legacies further endearing the Scheme to all and sundry.
Ibrahim said the engagement of Corps Members in Community Development Service imbue in them patriotic spirit, good interpersonal relationship, leadership skills, team spirit, endurance, selflessness, love, charitable spirit, among others.
He added that their efforts have not only helped to bridge the imbalance in rural-urban development, but also reawakened stakeholders' consciousness regarding the needs of the rural dwellers.
He commended the award recipients, adding that successive batches of Corps Members have served as foot soldiers in the implementation of different Community Development Service projects across the country.
"The idea of annual launch of CDS activities and the institution of awards will not only give additional impetus to this cardinal programme, but also spur both the Corps Members and the CDS Field Officers to greater performance".
"I am confident that the philosophy of Community Development Service you have imbibed during the service year will be put into practice in the various leadership positions you may find yourselves".
"While l heartily congratulate the award winners, it is my hope that this initiative will translate into greater results in the implementation of the Community Development Service", the DG said.
Ibrahim further stated that though Corps Members' activities on CDS projects are geared towards accelerating development, especially at the grassroots, there is the need to intensify material, financial and technical support to actualise timely completion of projects, such as civil works and fabrications initiated by Corps Members within a reasonable part of the service year.
"The usual fervour associated with CDS activities have continued to dwindle in recent years. Factors responsible for this include poor incentives for Corps Members who execute projects, lack of support from community leaders, inadequate financial and material resources and technical challenges", the DG added.
General Shuaibu Ibrahim commended the entire NYSC Staff nationwide for their unwaivering commitment to enhancing the success of Community Development Service activities.
During the ceremony, the best group CDS award went to Gender Vanguard and Charity CDS Group - Adamawa, second best - Gender Vanguard and Charity CDS Group - Akwa Ibom and third best - Educating Nigerian Girls in New Enterprises (Engine) FCT.
Similarly, in the collaborative partners category, UNICEF came first, second best - MIND THE GAP and third best - SDGs
Dignitaries that graced the ceremony include; the FCT Minister, Alhaji Muhammed Musa Bello, who was represented by the Acting Secretary, Social Development Secretariat and Chairman, NYSC FCT Governing Board, Dr Kelvin Ike, Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, represented by the Senior Special Assistant, Technical Dr Bala Yusuf Yunusa among others.
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