By CALEB AYANSINA
Going by the reason of its creation, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has taken culture and sport as majors unifying factors to further enhance the noble objective of the scheme.

This is clearly shown in its 2011 edition of the annual NYSC sport and cultural festival with the theme; ‘Sport and Culture as Tool for National Transformation, the Role of NYSC.’

At the occasion, the NYSC boss and Director General of the scheme, Brig-General Okore-Affia   said the festival is designed to promote unity among the corps members, which will culminate in projecting the country while strengthening the national cohesion.

*A cultural performance by the corps members

“As you are already aware, this is an annual programme essentially packaged to bring together serving corps members from various states, backgrounds and diverse cultures and orientations to engage in competitive sport and track events such as drama, dance and comedy in furtherance of the attainment of one of the cardinal objectives of the NYSC scheme, which is national unity.

“Usually the competition is very keen and exciting, but carried out in a friendly atmosphere while at the same time retaining its original recreational essence. Above all, the exercise will enable the corps members interact more deeply; build bridges of understanding and cooperation across diverse culture.

“At this point, I want to remind the participating corps members that even though at the close of events winners and losers shall surely emerge, winning at all cost has never been and should not form the basis of the competition.”

At the grand finale of the ceremony, the Chairman of the Panel of Judges, Prof.  Emmanuel Danbuwa commended the scheme for organising such a festival to further enhance national unity and to bring out young talents among the serving corps members, adding that the likes of Ali Baba, Patrick Otoro among others who hold the pillar of entertainment industry in Nigeria were mentored in an occasion like this.

“We want to encourage the NYSC to faction out entrepreneurial packages from this cultural festival, so that  we can secure alternative source of funding from the Bank of Industry (BOI), NEXIM bank

As am speaking, on good authority, in March the President invited us, who he called entertainment chieftains in Nigeria to a dinner in Lagos, there, he said entertainment industry is crucial to the transformation agenda of this government.

“He demonstrated that World Bank was able to provide $200m which is being managed by BOI as well as NEXIM bank, we are working to see how we can assess it, to improve upon our performances and who say NYSC cultural competition cannot be packaged in such a way that it can assess funding from these banks. He enquired.

The best comedian went to Stanley Chibuzor from Ondo state, Akwa-Ibom state clung the first position in Drama while Jigawa State with their Gorozo dance became overall winner in Cultural Dance. The best costume and best state properties went to Ebonyi and Bayelsa states respectively.

N200, 000 went to the first position, 2nd position got N150, 000 and the 3rd position went away with N100, 000. Beside that Plaques and certificates were also presented to winners.