Buhari lauds corps members’ role in 2015 elections

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has praised the efforts of members of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the successful conduct of the 2015 general elections.

According to him, the courage of the corps members in the face of daunting security challenges helped in deepening the nation’s democracy.

President Buhari, who gave the commendation yesterday at the commemoration of the 2015 International Youth Day celebration held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, said Nigeria will always remember the youths as heroes of democracy.

“As we commemorate this year’s International Youth Day, let me use this moment to, once again, pay tribute to all the young people who played significant roles in making the 2015 general elections a model for democratic governance in Africa.

“The role you played, individually and collectively, in not only being peaceful members of the electorate but galvanising the social media platform and mobilizing your peers to make the right choice, contributed in no small measure to having a credible election in an atmosphere that was hitherto tense and volatile. The outcome is today being celebrated worldwide. Your role is greatly appreciated.

“I can assure you, my young compatriots, that you have written your names in history and you will be remembered as true heroes of our democracy and as architects of change,” the president said.

Buhari lamented that Nigeria’s economic growth has not translated into commensurate and improved social outcome for the youths in the country. “It is, however, an issue of serious concern that in Nigeria, so far, economic growth has not translated into commensurate and improved social outcomes, especially for our 60 million young people who made up the majority of the population.”

He however, assured that his administration will place high premium on tackling the problems facing the youth in the country.