NIJ alumnus Victory Bernard bags NYSC award

By Ibrahim Kegbegbe

Alumnus of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Victory Bernard bagged a national award at the President’s NYSC Honours Award held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja on Thursday, 18 May 2023.

The President’s NYSC Honours Award was instituted in 1974 as a veritable avenue to recognize and reward outstanding performance among members of the service corps who, by means of hard work, courage, exemplary behaviours, commitment, loyalty and dexterity distinguished themselves during the mandatory one-year National Service.

An award winner must have distinguished himself or herself in the four phases of the service year.

The orientation or induction course (primary assignment), Community Development Service (secondary assignment) and the winding-up or passing-out activities.

In addition, he or she should have conceived, initiated and successfully executed a personal community project that addressed the felt need of the host community.

Emphasis is therefore placed on tangible and durable achievement that benefits the community where the corps member was posted for the National Service.

The awardees were 65 former members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Among them were 52 individuals able ex-corps while the remaining 13 were also the physically challenged ex-corps members under the NYSC Hope Alive programme.

While granting our reporter interview on Friday, 19 May, Bernard said he was a corps member at Community Grammar School, Eyinni, Ibadan South East Local Government, Oyo State.

He moved further to say that all the awardees were found to have given outstanding performance in the four cardinal points of the NYSC Scheme including the orientation camp, PPA, community development service and POP.

He said, “I felt elated being selected among the recipients of the national award. I won’t say I was surprised because I knew I gave my best and I thank God for honouring me through the federal government. It is a good one and is a strong motivation for extended performance among Nigerian youths.

“I must state categorically that it is the community development service project that you embark upon that qualifies you for the award. You have to impact your host community. I gave my students SSCE textbooks to support their academic prowess as well as free tutorials.”

He said that Nigerian graduating students should always try to serve the country well, adding that the service to the country is a service to God as he felt that God has created Nigeria for a good purpose to be known soon.

“I also, during my time in service, carried out some impactful activities including the donation of food items to the orphans, and the donation of Coronavirus washing hand facilities to schools in Oyo and the Oyo NYSC Orientation Camp. I performed well in camp. I appreciate God.

“My advice to corps members presently serving is that they should seek to be unique. There is no harm in trying and there is nothing wrong with failing but you must take risks and be resilient in contributing to the community. It is all about passion and patriotism,” he said.

President Buhari disclosed at the event that both groups would be awarded scholarships to pursue their education up to the Doctorate Degree level at any university of their choice within the country.

Furthermore, he announced a cash prize of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira for each of the top award winners, and Two Hundred Thousand Naira for other award recipients, including the physically challenged ex-corps members under the NYSC Hope Alive programme.

In addition to the promises, the president issued a directive to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Federal Civil Service Commission and the Honourable Minister of Education to ensure adherence to the employment offer and the granting of scholarships.