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NYSC @50: Don’t Relent in your effort towards promotion of Nigeria Unity, First Lady charges NYSC
…Flags off Medical Outreach for Rural Dwellers
Joel Ajayi
The Wife of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Mrs Aisha Buhari has charged the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) not to leave any stone unturned towards the overall unity and progress of Nigeria.
She made this appeal on Tuesday, in Abuja, at the flag-off of special medical outreaches under the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD), organized as part of activities to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Scheme.
According to her, it is notable that the scheme has made enormous impact, especially among rural dwellers, which has continued to attract commendation from both within and outside the country.
“While I join millions of Nigerians in celebrating the NYSC at 50, I call on the Management of the Scheme as well as the Corps Members not to relent their efforts in promoting unity of the country by providing quality service delivery to the Nation irrespective of State or place of service.
“I have noted with great satisfaction, the giant strides of the Scheme through the provision of health care to Nigerians.
“The introduction of the HIRD programme has largely been successful. As part of my Office’s appreciation, the donation of a well-equipped mobile clinic to the Scheme is to enhance the success of the Corps Medical team. I am sure that this facility would continuously assist in this respect.
“I am optimistic that the commemoration of the five decades of NYSC’s existence, couple with the introduction the HIRD outreach, will further validate the argument for the continued relevance of the Scheme.”
On his remarked, the Director General of NYSC Brigadier General YD Ahmed revealed that over 3million Nigerians has benefited from scheme’s health put in place some years ago.
NYSC DG expressed that, since its establishment five decades ago, the National Youth Service Corps has remained an enduring platform for the mobilization of human and material resources for the actualization of the Nigeria of our dream.
According to him, the Scheme has long been a catalyst of our socio-cultural, political and economic development.
“Like other developing countries, Nigeria faces challenges in its health sector, but concerted efforts are being made by various stakeholders, including the NYSC, with a view to making the system more functional.
“As a Scheme that has continued to expand its frontiers in the delivery of services to Nigerians, NYSC launched its Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) programme in 2014. It is a platform through which Corps medical personnel comprising Doctors, Pharmacists, Nurses, and Dentists, amongst others, provide free and quality health care for the people, especially the rural poor.
News
PSIN Administrator Commends Yobe Government for Championing Leadership Continuity and Institutional Sustainability
Cyril Igele
The Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN), Barrister Imeh Okon, has applauded the Yobe State Government for its strong commitment to leadership continuity and sustainable governance through strategic investment in human capital development.
Barrister Okon gave the commendation at the opening of a Management Retreat for Yobe State Permanent Secretaries, held at the PSIN headquarters in Abuja.
The retreat, themed “Succession Planning, Leadership Continuity, and Institutional Sustainability in the Yobe State Public Service,” convened senior bureaucrats and resource persons to discuss strategies for strengthening leadership and governance within the state’s civil service.
In her remarks, the PSIN Administrator praised Governor Mai Mala Buni for his foresight and partnership in prioritizing public sector training and capacity development. She described the theme of the retreat as both “timely and visionary,” emphasizing that institutions endure only when leadership is continuous, knowledge is shared, and systems—not individuals—drive performance.
“Institutions thrive not merely on structures or policies, but on the deliberate cultivation of capable leaders who can sustain progress across generations,” she said. “By prioritizing leadership continuity and institutional resilience, Yobe State is leading by example.”
Barrister Okon reiterated PSIN’s mandate to build a competent, ethical, and innovative public service capable of delivering tangible results to citizens. She stressed that effective succession planning must be anchored in continuous training, mentorship, and exposure to emerging governance trends.
Citing best practices from Singapore and the United Kingdom, Okon noted that successful public service systems deliberately identify and nurture potential leaders through structured talent pipelines and transparent career development programmes. According to her, Yobe State’s initiative reflects its readiness to sustain excellence in governance.
She also highlighted PSIN’s flagship programmes—SMART-P, which builds administrative and technical capacity; LEAD-P, designed to groom emerging leaders; and the Exit from Service Masterclass, which prepares officers for life after service. Okon urged the Yobe Government to adopt the Exit Masterclass into its human resource framework to ensure a smooth transition for retirees, preserve institutional knowledge, and promote productivity through entrepreneurship and consultancy.
“Succession planning is not an event but a culture that must be institutionalised at every level of public administration,” she added. “When we prepare successors in advance and invest in continuous learning, we guarantee the sustainability of reforms and consistency in governance.”
Declaring the retreat open, the Acting Head of Service of Yobe State, Alhaji Abdullahi Shehu, reaffirmed Governor Buni’s commitment to building a results-driven and high-performing public service.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Public Service, Alhaji Shehu, the Acting Head of Service expressed gratitude to God and lauded PSIN as the “mother institution of public service learning.” He stated that Governor Buni has consistently directed the Office of the Head of Service to promote seamless succession planning and capacity building to enhance efficiency and accountability across government institutions.
“In line with this directive, we have brought the top echelon of the state civil service to PSIN—being the drivers and core implementers of government policies and programmes—to strengthen continuity and sustainability in our reforms,” he said.
He urged participants to fully engage in the retreat, share experiences, and cascade the knowledge gained to officers across ministries, departments, and agencies. The exercise, he explained, forms part of a deliberate strategy to institutionalize effective succession planning within the Yobe State Civil Service, thereby ensuring sustained productivity and improved service delivery to citizens.
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