More than 50 years after its establishment, the National Youth Service Corps remains a critical instrument of national integration and development, according to a former Director General of the scheme who received the current NYSC chief in Abuja.

Major General Johnson Olawumi (Rtd), who served as NYSC Director General from January 2014 to April 2016, expressed his views during a courtesy visit by the incumbent Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, at his Abuja residence.

Olawumi affirmed that the scheme has continued to live up to the ideals that informed its establishment and met the expectations of Nigeria in all ramifications, despite the challenges it has faced over the decades. He highlighted the NYSC's achievements in community development, critical interventions in national programmes, unity and cultural integration, describing these as factors that have positioned the scheme as a national instrument, building bridges across religious, socioeconomic and cultural affiliations.

The retired general extolled the qualities of NYSC staff, describing them as among the best crop of personnel he had worked with, and urged Nafiu to harness their potential for effective leadership. Olawumi also disclosed that he has continued to monitor the activities of the scheme and offers his thoughts when necessary.

Nafiu, on his part, stated that the visit was an opportunity to pay homage to his predecessor and acknowledge the tenacity and determination Olawumi displayed during his tenure as chief executive of the scheme. The Director General particularly commended Olawumi for introducing the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers programme, through which corps members take healthcare delivery to the doorstep of rural communities and indigent Nigerians, as well as the introduction of electronic registration for corps members.

Olawumi, in turn, reaffirmed that the relevance of the NYSC to Nigeria's national fabric could not be overstated, noting that the scheme's contributions to grassroots development and interethnic cohesion remained as compelling today as they were at inception.