An illiustrious son of Mbaise and a renowned Professor of philosophy who brought the idea that set up the nation’s integration programme, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Prof Uzodinma Timothy Nwala has disclosed how the NYSC, one of the unifying force in the nation (NYSC) came into existence
Prof Nwala who was a guest at the Mbaise Policy Round Table (MPR) Community Leadership Program Series, on global fm Aguneze made the disclosure during an interactive session with the moderator Mr Kennedy Onwunali.
The guest who hails from Itu Ezinihitte Mbaise stated that thought of how to relate to youths from other parts of the country as well as the way to tackle the reconciliation programme as he decided that the first step was to send delegates for an into visit some in the North and some in the south, where they prepared a memorandum.
The Prof reiterated that he and his team agreed that they must work on this reconciliation programme, put it together in a way that will help in National integration hence, the put a memo to Grahan who he described as a wonderful man stressing, that they were always together and as Grahan approved the memo, suggested that they should have a National tour.
Still speaking, the professor revealed that he led the team to Lagos and the West, where they had meeting with Nigerian youths then, put up a memorandum to Gowon’s government also, solicited with hin to nationalize the programme to make it possible for the youths from all parts of Nigeria to relate with one another.
They however, decided that the programme should be for undergraduates and in every long vacation, government should recruit all of them where those from the east should be sent to the North and West, while those from North and West should be sent to the East.
The Prof narrated that his team arrived Lagos on September 30th, the eve of the post war independence anniversary adding, that they couldn’t see Gowon directly but they handed the memorandum to the ministry headed by Aminu Kano at that time and few weeks later, they had that Gowon’s government was very happy with the memorandum, a committee was set and within a year or 2 years later, Gowon”s government gave their affirmation of the programme and it was named the National Youth Service Corp.
One of the callers in the programme, Mr Chidi Jacob commended professor Nwala adding tha was the prof was his teacher as well as his mentor maintaing, thar he was so excited to hear the genesis of the NYSC as he prayed God to continue to grant him more wisdom.
Commenting on the subject, the Chairman of the Mbaise Policy Roundtable (MPR), Prof. Eddie Oparaoji, said, “we are humble to have one of our own, Professor Nwala, as the brain behind the birthing of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Nigeria! An initiative that has played a significant role in the country’s development since its establishment, fostering National Unity and Integration: Skills Development and Capacity Building: Community Development Projects: Human Resource Development, National Emergency Response and other critical socioeconomic sectors. We are very proud of him and pray for his continued contribution to humanity.”
