Chukwuebuka Callistus Nkwocha, one of the 210 former National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, who President Bola Tinubu honoured with the President’s NYSC Honours Award, has revealed why he was honoured with the prestigious national award.

The scholar and social advocate, on Friday, through a communique to the press, said he was given the award because of the social and humanitarian work he carried out during his service year as a corps member serving at the Postgraduate School of the Niger Delta University in Bayelsa State from 2021 to 2022.

Reports have it that Nkwocha was given the national award for excelling in the four cardinal programmes of the NYSC, which are orientation courses, primary assignment, community development service, and winding-up/passing-out exercises.

According to Nkwocha, the projects he initiated and completed as a corps member in Bayelsa were on-air cancer and public health advocacy programmes, educational empowerment for underprivileged primary school students, healthcare support through donations to community hospitals, reconstruction of an abandoned corps residence, facilitation of housing support through the Niger Delta University, and traffic and road safety initiatives through the reconstruction of dilapidated traffic police posts in the town he served.

President Bola Tinubu, in appreciation, presented each honouree of the award with a ₦250,000 cash prize, immediate employment in the federal civil service, and postgraduate scholarships in any university in the country.

The scholar stated that before the President’s NYSC Honour Award, in received a similar award from the Bayelsa State government in 2022 for his community and humanitarian endeavours as a corps member.

He further stated that he served as the health community development service (CDS) leader and later as the corps liaison officer (CLO) in the local government he served.

Stating that he was not able to attend the President’s NYSC Honours Award ceremony in Abuja because he was in the US, he added, “This national recognition is a call to keep bridging science and service, to keep turning knowledge into impact. Service is powerful, and purpose is everything.”

He emphasised that public service, no matter how quietly done, is never invisible, adding, “This award affirms that true impact often begins with empathy, sincerity, and a willingness to act.”

He said that the President’s NYSC Honours Award is a spotlight on his academic and professional journey, which will reposition him to build bridges between Nigeria and the United States in the area of cancer immunology research, as well as in research grant application, building collaborations, and designing outreach programmes.

Nkwocha advised corps members to see their service year and their uniform as platforms for social and community change, stressing that the ripple effect of genuine service can follow someone far beyond their NYSC year.

Nkwocha stated that he began his national service after graduating from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture in Abia State, where he studied Biochemistry, finishing with a First Class honours. He added that he is currently a PhD student at the Department of Biochemistry, University of New Hampshire, United States, where he is researching cancer immunology.

As a PhD student and graduate teaching assistant at the University of New Hampshire, he serves as the Director of Programmes for the African Students Association (ASA), where his role involves conceptualising, planning, and executing events that celebrate African culture, promote academic excellence, and foster community among African students and allies on campus.

According to him, some of the programmes include cultural events, professional development workshops, mental health discussions, and advocacy campaigns.

“I love this role because it helps me to give back to the community using my leadership, organisational, and communication skills,” he said.