Some National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, members in Yobe State, on Monday voluntarily embarked on evacuation of some blocked drainages within Damaturu, the state Capital.
The three corps members, two men and a lady, who spoke with newsmen on Monday in Damaturu narrated what motivated them to embark on the tedious work.
Tarzoho Paul with registration number YB/19C/1652, who is a graduate of English Language from the Benue State University, Makurdi, disclosed the reason behind initiating the community development exercise.
“I started this work alone with the belief that it would improve the health and environmental hygiene of this community.
“One good thing about community development service is to reawaken the spirit of responsibility to others. Now because of this effort, other people started doing similar work in the community,” Mr Tarzoho said.
He also noted that the NYSC was not all about wearing good khaki and moving around, but about making positive change in the community.
Uche Egbuemike, the lady corps member with registration number YB/19C/0973, a graduate of Economics from University of Nigeria Nsukka, said she was motivated by the courage of her colleague Paul, who started the work alone.
“My friend Paul motivated me to join him in this community development project.
“He told me about the work he was doing and showed me some pictures of the work. I was amazed at his performance and I made up my mind to join him,” she said.
As a female, she said it was not easy to do that kind of work especially at the beginning.
“But then I want to help my host community and send a message to other female corps members that they can do anything they want to do.
“I really feel honoured to be in this kind of position,” Mr Egbuemike added.
On his part, Richard Peter with registration number YB/19B/0946 also a graduate of Economics from Benue State University, appealed to other corps members to always identify what their host communities needed and work on it.
“I appeal to other corps members to be humble and sincere. There are lots of challenges facing our host communities so it is good to identify such challenges and address them,” he said.
The three corps members also expressed gratitude to the community members and passers-by, who sometimes provided them drinking water and other little gifts in appreciation for their dedication and service to the community.
They however, stated that their major challenge was excessive heat due to weather condition.
Ali Mustapha, a resident of GRA Damaturu and one of the beneficiaries of the corps members’ efforts, registered his appreciation on behalf of other community members.
“Being one of the beneficiaries of this noble objective, on behalf of this community I want to register my appreciation to all the youth corps members in the states.
“And particularly to these two boys and a lady, they have done a good job for us at least they have assisted in clearing these blocked drainages in our community.
NAN
