By Abel Abogonye, Lafia
Coordinator of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Nasarawa state Mr Abdullahi Jikamshi, has indicated that the goal of the scheme’s Director General’s Sports and Cultural Festival is to at foster unity, national integration among Nigerian youths.
He spoke during the inauguration of the NYSC Director General 2022 Sports and Cultural Festival North Central Zonal Preliminaries held at the Magaji Dan Yamusa NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Keffi local government area of the state on Sunday.
The Zonal Preliminaries involve Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Benue, Kaduna states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja are the states competing for tickets to represent the zone at the NYSC DG Sports and Culture national festival.
Corps members of the various states and Abuja are competing for spots to participate at the national level of the festival in dance and drama competitions and sporting activities such as football and volleyball.
In his welcome address, Jikamshi said the goal of the festival held annually is geared towards fostering unity, national integration and encouraging youths to appreciate the different cultures of different ethnic groups in the country.
“You are going to dance dances that are not of your culture. You will also compete in sporting activities with corps members of different tribes but NYSC is trying to tell us that we are here to appreciate our different cultures and to foster unity among our youths.
“The essence is not in winning and carrying the trophy. The essence is far deeper than that. Let us understand it and benefit from that,” he said.
He explained that those who qualify at the Zonal preliminaries will qualify to go and compete at the national event expected to hold later in 2022 in Abuja and win prizes.
“The festival at the national level also serves as an avenue for staff because at the national level, there are scouts who come to scout for sportsmen and sign them. So the festival goes a long way to fostering unity and offers life changing opportunities to participating corps members,” he said.
In her speech, Mrs Gladys Adama, NYSC Deputy Director, Community Development Service (CDS) also reemphasize the message that the festival is aimed at promoting Nigeria as a united country and that a unified Nigeria is possible.
“Apart from that the fact it helps us as a way of exercise, It is also to ensure that our youths understand that together we stand strong,” he said.
In an interview, Mr Nathan Oghenesurwe, a corps member from Niger state lauded the initiative as a very good one that will help youths, especially corps members to foster unity among them and also help them to understand and appreciate the culture of the indigents of the state’s they are serving.
“Now I am from Delta state but I have learnt a lot from Niger state, their culture, how they dance and how they live their daily lives. I have learnt a lot already and the introduction of this festival will further engender unity amongst us,” he said.