A member of the National Youth Service Year Corps (NYSC) deployed to Plateau State, Mr Martins Bassey, has built and donated a 3-classroom block to the Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School at Rangarasang, Rantya in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The classrooms and two offices, constructed at N6.5 million, were unveiled and commissioned by the Deputy Governor of Plateau state, Mrs Josephine Piyo.
Speaking on the occasion, the deputy governor, represented by the Ag. Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (PSUBEB), Mr Sunday Samuel Amuna, said that the project was part of the vision of those who conceived the idea of a one-year mandatory national youth service for graduates of tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
He said that those who had advocated for the scrapping of the scheme would now have to rethink because the advantages far outweighed the disadvantages.
Amuna said he participated in the scheme in 1990, where he took part in the construction of the Akwa Ibom state secretariat, adding that today, Bassey had reciprocated by building classroom blocks in Plateau.
Amuna said, “Because of the security situation in the country, some people had conceived the idea of abrogating the national youth service scheme, but today, we have seen the dividends. NYSC is the only scheme that unites the Nigerian youths from every part of the country and I don’t think that with what Martins has done, any person will think of scrapping it. Today we have every reason to continue with the NYSC scheme”
He described the donor as a visionary leader whose name will be permanently etched in the history of the commission.
The PSUBEB Secretary recalled that Corper passed out last year, but because of the passion he had for the project, he stayed back to complete it. He promised to post teachers to the school as well providing chairs in the classrooms.
Chairman Building Committee, Sunday Damboyi, described Martins Bassey as an exemplary youth leader, saying, “God sent him to this community because God knows that our children need a good learning environment.
When he came here, he saw the need for the only community school, which is a classrooms.
He made it a duty to leave his name in the footprint of time by erecting this legacy project. Not every Corper can put up a project like this. We will never forget him.
Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Martins Bassey’s education has always been close to my heart, because accessing education while growing up in a rural community in Akwa Ibom State, was a bit difficult for me. Having realised that Education is the only key to unlocking the potential within each individual and building a brighter future for our community, he became an ardent advocate for quality education at the University of Uyo. I affirm that it is through education that we can empower our young minds, equip them with knowledge, and nurture their talents and skills.
He pointed out that this moment serves as a reminder of the work that lies ahead in this Community School and for education in Plateau State and Nigeria as a whole. It is my desire that this place will be transformed into a secondary school in the near future, beyond the construction of this physical structure. I call on the Plateau State Government to address the systemic challenges that hinder access to education in this community, such as poverty, gender inequality, lack of teachers and limited resources.
Highlights of the occasion include the commissioning of the project, group photographs with presentation of gifts to the deserving corp member by the community leaders and other spirited individuals who initiated and completed this project to the community.
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