By In a rare moment of praise, Professor Emeritus Peter A. Okebukola, former executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), described the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as “the best thing to happen to Nigeria.” He made this statement during a special visit to the NYSC Ogun State Secretariat in Abeokuta yesterday.
Professor Okebukola, who also serves as the director of the UNESCO-affiliated Institute for African Culture and International Understanding, was part of the very first set of corps members in 1973. His visit to Ogun State was not only to reconnect with the scheme but also to meet with the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs. Olayinka Diana Nasamu, to discuss possible collaboration.
The professor is working on a plan to attract the brightest NYSC graduates to join his institute. According to him, the future of African culture and international understanding relies heavily on smart, passionate young minds, and the NYSC is the perfect place to find them.
Reflecting on the early days of the scheme, Prof. Okebukola admitted that not all graduates were happy about it. “We were initially resistant to leaving our comfort zones for national service,” he confessed. “Some of us even opposed the scheme’s founder, General Yakubu Gowon.”
However, with the benefit of time, Okebukola believes the NYSC has proven its worth. “History has vindicated his vision—today, Nigeria is better for it,” he stated.
The visit ended with Professor Okebukola encouraging corps members to embrace their service year, describing it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve the nation and shape their future careers.
