Insecurity eroding NYSC objective, as Olubadan tells FG to fight scourge

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade ll, on Friday, lamented how insecurity is eroding the age-long and laudable objective of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

Oba Balogun said the scheme is under a serious threat as a result of the seemingly intractable problem of insecurity pervading the land.

The monarch stated this while hosting the management team of the NYSC in Oyo State led by the State Coordinator, Mrs. Grace Ogbuogebe at his Alarere residence.

Against this backdrop, Oba Balogun called on the Federal Government to put more efforts in the fight against insecurity, noting that, “the level of insecurity is fastly eroding the noble idea and objective of the founding fathers of the scheme that remains one of the best attempts to unify the country.

“Today, an average parent would not want his or her child to go far away from the home state in the name of national service because of the fear of unknown which was unheard of in the years past. The gains of the NYSC scheme are too precious to be discarded on the altar of insecurity”, Olubadan added.

Recalling his experience on his return to the country from the United Kingdom in 1972 when he had offers to either work at the then University of Ife (UNIFE) now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife or Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and chose Zaria because he wanted to know his country, the monarch said such decision was made then because everywhere was save and secured for all and sundry.

He implored the present corps members serving in the state to make the best use of the opportunity and hospitality of their hosts to advance the cause of the oneness of the country as he promised the NYSC management in the state his support and cooperation towards sustaining the objective of the founding fathers.

Earlier, the State Coordinator, Mrs. Ogbuogebe said the visit was to felicitate Oba Balogun on his ascension of the throne, stressing that the entire management was on camp during the installation/coronation in March this year which made it impossible for her team to be part of the epoch -making event.

She reeled out numerous achievements of the scheme across the country as well as the various interventions being made in the critical sectors of the national life including education and health. “Today, there’s no school or General Hospital/Primary Health Centre in Oyo State that you would not find a Corps member”, she said.

The State Coordinator applauded the government of the state for its unflinching cooperation just as she recalled the fatherly role played by the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1 for the scheme as well with a call on Oba Balogun to see the scheme as his baby too, saying, “we will be coming with our requests Kabiyesi and we want your doors to remain open to us”.