A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, serving in Sokoto State, Mr. Okereke Franklin has renovated a block of three classrooms at the Shabra primary school in Yabo local government area of the state, at the cost of N550,000.
The Batch “C” corps member, who hails from Imo state and currently doing his primary assignment in the state ministry of information, said it, was part of his contribution to the development education in the state.
“I did it to save the future of the children of the village and its neighbours. I sacrificed my one year national and state monthly allowances to realise this lofty dream.
“I have not received any help from anybody and God is my witness. I even borrowed money from my co-corps members in this direction,” the corps member, said.
He explained that he was deployed to the area for the conduct of the April general election and he observed the dilapidated nature of the school.
Okereke said he had no any regrets for undertaking the project as God brought him to the world to assist others.
Inaugurating the classrooms in Shabra on Monday, the chairman of Yabo local government, Alhaji Abubakar Shamaki, who was represented by the councillor of Birnin-Ruwa ward , Musa Ladan, commended Okereke for the gesture
“That is why we always commend the founding fathers of Nigeria for initiating the NYSC scheme which boosts unity, peace and the socio-economic development of the country.
“We will continue to do our own little best to ensure the success of the scheme at all levels as it has now become part and parcel of us,’’ Shamaki said.
The village head, Alhaji Umaru Abdullahi hailed the gesture, saying “The classrooms had been in bad state for several years
Meanwhile, it was gathered that despite his contribution to the development of the state, the corps members name is not among those to be honoured by the Sokoto State NYSC.
“Franklin has done what the indigenes of the village have never done and I am appealing to the state government to employ him.
“This is to enable him to continue the good job he is doing to enhance unity, peace and progress of Nigeria,’’ the traditional ruler, added.
In appreciation of Franklin’s gesture, the community donated ten
Yards of shadda material, and a ram to him, while the chairman of the local government also made a personal donation of? N20,000 and? N50,000 officially, from the local government.