The Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawunmi, said on Wednesday that the scheme had engendered unity and integration since its inception.
Olawunmi said this at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.
Johnson Olawunmi, NYSC Boss
He said that the establishment of scheme after the civil was necessary in order to foster national unity and guard against the recurrence of the unfortunate conflict.
“When the scheme was established 40 years ago we felt that one of the things we needed to do was to put things in place that will engender unity and integration and that was one of the main reasons the scheme was established.
“Without any doubt, we all know that we have achieved a lot as far as integration is concerned. Compare the 70s, you now see people who have gone to serve their fatherland engaging in inter-tribal marriages.
“May be, somebody from the North has gone to serve in the South-East and he married from there and built a life there.
“So, I want Nigerians to disregard suggestions in some quarters that there is a problem in Nigeria, no, Nigeria is a great country.
“If we continue to do things that will bring unity, we will only be helping Nigeria to attain the greatness we all desire.’’
Olawunmi said that there were reports that corps doctors after completing their mandatory one-year service remained at their stations to establish their private owned hospitals.
He also said inter- tribal marriages within the corps members had been on the increase, noting that these were initially not possible.
“We have done enough to achieve unity in Nigeria; in the early 70s, even in Yoruba land, it was practically impossible for you to see an Ekiti man going to marry somebody from Ijebu. But these days nobody seems to bother.
“So, we have done a lot as far as integration and national unity is concerned.’’ (NAN)