Founder of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, General Dr Yakubu Gowon, Rtd, despite resistance, the scheme survived and is now above 50 years
Gowon said this as the NYSC management, led by Director General YD Ahmed, paid him a visit to mark his 90th birthday on Friday.
Gowon expressed gratitude to God for “sparing my life thus far, and I appreciate Nigerians for their goodwill towards me. ”
He also thanked the Director General and the entire NYSC family for the goodwill visit.
He further expressed appreciation “for the dogged commitment shown by successive batches of Nigerian graduate youths for ensuring that the Scheme lived up to the ideals of nation building, unity, and integration.”
Going down memory lane, General Gowon recalled that “initially there was resistance from the youth at the inception of the NYSC.”
He noted that “despite the initial misgivings, the scheme has grown to become a huge success story with immense contributions to national development.”
The DG, along with his team, spontaneously sang the happy birthday song for the celebrating nonagenarian.
They expressed appreciation to God for sparing General Gowon’s life over the years.
General Ahmed said “the visit was to wish the former Head of State a happy birthday.”
The Director General presented the celebrant with a life-size birthday card on behalf of the entire staff and corps members nationwide.
