Newsfront Online …Telling the Public as it is
…Calls for safe release of all kidnapped corps members
By Saviour Ekpe
As members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on a regular basis continue to lose their lives while responding to ‘national call’, Professor of Research Development and President of the prestigious Peace International Interdisciplinary Research Institute (PIIRI), Abuja, Nigeria has called on the Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to completely overhaul the composition of the scheme for a more robust, result-oriented and capacity-driven organization.
Prof. Udosen’s proposition was contained in a piece christened, “Frequent Loss Of Life Of Our Youth Corps Members: Immediate Call For Action” and made available to Century Newsfront reads in part, “In the submission of Paulo Coelho – “Tears are words that need to be written.” Obviously, the Vision of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) is to develop a sound and result oriented organization that is strongly committed to its set objectives particularly those of national unity and even development. An organization that is well motivated and capable of bringing out the best qualities in our youths and imparting in them the right attitude and values for nation-building. An organization that serves as a catalyst to national development, and a source of pride and fulfillment to its participating graduate youths.
It is no longer news that Gunmen have abducted eight National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Zamfara State. It was learnt that the corps members were travelling in Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) bus from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to Sokoto State, for the one-year national service, when their vehicle was intercepted by the hoodlums.
In the bus, according to a verifiable source, were 11 corps members and the driver, but three of the corps members escaped. According to the Guardian, the eight corps members were abducted alongside the driver. They left Uyo on Friday, and slept over in Abuja. It was when they were proceeding to Sokoto that they were kidnapped. The corps members were offloaded (from the bus) and taken into the bush. The police have recovered the bus.””.
In his submission, Prof. Udosen who also is the Head of Administration of Peace Institute of Management and Technology (Peace Poly) called on the Federal Government, apart from youth corps members serving in their respective regions, the orientation camping session should be used for entrepreneurial training, upon submission of business plans, successful corps members should be adequately empowered in order to contribute to the nation’s GDP, “While we count on the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, IG Nigeria Police force,, Government of Zamfara State & other stakeholders to as a matter of Urgency ensures the safe release of all kidnapped corps members. Shall we continue like this? Of course, the answer is No. Below are my kind suggestions on the subject matter:
1.0) Corps Members should from now henceforth be posted to serve within their zones 2.0) The scheme should be restrategized to focus on the three (3) weeks camp, (orientation & skills training) such that at the end of the orientation, depending on the business plans corps Members shall present to the committee, they are given start-up packs of between Five Hundred Thousand to One Million Naira (N500,000-N1,000,000) to start an enterprise 3.0) Best brains should be employed or engaged immediately after graduation 4.0) Kidnapping can only be stopped when the (Top, Middle and low Levels of Management and all stakeholders) are honest with themselves because Kidnappers are not Spirits nor Ghosts, the weapons/gadgets/devices they use to communicate with the parents of the victims can easily be tracked and traced but we pretend to be ignorant of the realities.
May the labour of our Heroes’ past never be in vain. God have mercy on our Land and save our innocent brothers & sisters in adoption. Expose all sponsors & affiliates of kidnapping in our country. God bless Nigeria and Nigerians”
