NYSC Honors Corps Members for Exceptional Community Development Contributions.

Through the Community Development Service (CDS), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has recognized corps members for their exceptional contributions to the development of the country. At the opening ceremony of the 2024 CDS activities and the Director General's CDS award in Abuja yesterday, NYSC Director General Brigadier General Yusha'u Ahmed also acknowledged staff members and cooperating partners who excelled in their endeavors.

The goal of the Director General's CDS award, established in 2021, is to foster healthy competition among corps members, employees, and cooperating partners by stimulating and reigniting their passion for community development initiatives. The occasion, themed “Excellence in Action: Celebrating NYSC CDS Success Stories,” offers four prize categories: best CDS officers, best CDS groups, best individual CDS, and best collaborative agencies.

Borno State's NEMA CDS group took the top place in the best CDS groups category, followed by Adamawa's education and ICT CDS group in second place and Taraba State's Legal Aid CDS group in third. In the best individual CDS award, Wisdom Wealth Nduchika (registration number: FC/22B/5682/FCT) won first place, followed by Abdullahi Alhaji Nuhu (registration number: KT/23A/0015/Katsina State), Mathew Maxwell Ohiare (registration number: ED/22B2203/Edo State), and Akwuobi Ebuka Stephen (registration number: TR/22B/0657/Taraba State), who tied for second place.

Mr. Buhari Aliyu Karaye of the Katsina State secretariat was awarded first place for best CDS schedule officer. Mr. Mohammed Adams Maunde of Borno State and Ituma Emmanuel Omenka of Ebonyi State tied for second place. In the area of best collaborative partners, the Oyebuchi Chris Ifediora (OCI) Foundation came in third, OSSAP-SDGs came in second, and Jobberman Nigeria came in first.

During his speech, the Director General challenged the incoming corps members to strive for a long-lasting legacy through community development and service. “The contributions of the Corps members to the development of their host communities in the areas of health, education, agriculture as well as advocacy on development issues have undoubtedly transformed them into societal custodians and vanguards, which are the salient qualities of visionary leaders. Without doubt, the prayers and goodwill of the beneficiaries of their services will remain their bedrock of success and attainment of greatness. As we relish the achievements of these young patriots and commend their outstanding contributions, which earned them this recognition, I would like to implore serving and future generation of Corps members to emulate their lofty gestures,” Ahmed said.