Corps members from Nigeria will be among the youths from across the globe that will travel to New Delhi, for the celebration of the 75th Independence Anniversary of India in January 2022.
This was disclosed by the High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, Mr Abhay Thakur, when he paid a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the National Youths Service Corps ( NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Shu’aibu Ibrahim in Abuja on Thursday.
A statement by the Acting Director, Special Duties, NYSC, Alhaji Musa Abubakar, said that the Envoy was accompanied by the Defence Adviser to the Indian High Commission in Nigeria, Col. Sachin Duvet.
He said that the decision to invite NYSC to the event was in consideration of the roles played by the scheme in the development of Nigeria.
Thakur added:” The invitation was in consideration of the fact that the NYSC shares a lot in common with the Indian National Cadet Corps, a replica of the NYSC in India.”
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Thakur explained that the corps members would be selected through a quiz competition to be organized by the High Commission, in collaboration with the NYSC.
” It will be fully funded by India as part of the country’s desire to ensure human interaction between India and her friends across the globe,” he stated.
Thakur thanked the director-general and the management of NYSC for the warm reception and promised that the country was willing to offer more opportunities to the scheme and Nigeria.
This, he explained, is in the area of other youth and cultural exchange programmes, among others.
Responding, Ibrahim informed the visiting High Commissioner that upon the receipt of the letter of invitation, the NYSC wrote both the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The letter was for the request for approval and clearance for the scheme to participate in the epoch-making event.
He also disclosed that the scheme had already begun the pre-selection process of the would-be participants.
The DG said:” The pre-selected corps members will converge on Abuja for the final selection quiz once arrangements were concluded with the Indian High Commission.”
He lauded the High Commission for its interest in the scheme and congratulated the country on its 75th Anniversary.
He assured the High Commission of the commitment of the NYSC in partnering with the country.
Ibrahim further noted that this type of engagement was not new to the scheme as it had collaborated with other countries.
This, he said, was either in support of establishing similar youth organizations or in providing corps members to showcase their abundant talents.
He also gave some insights into the activities of the corps members, especially during the period of the COVID-19 lockdown.
He added,” they were involved in the production of facemasks, hand sanitisers and other non-pharmaceutical products for the control of the disease.”
( NAN)
