The Borno State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Nura Umar is among awardees honoured by President Muhammadu Buhari with the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award in recognition of his hard work, diligence, selfless service and total commitment in promoting good governance.
The Thursday award ceremony was held at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.
Umar, along with other notable Nigerians was recognised for his innovations and commitment to selfless service since he assumed duty as the 28th NYSC Coordinator in the frontline state of Borno.
It would be recalled that operations of the NYSC Scheme in Borno State have nose dived due to the challenges of Boko Haram insurgency that negatively affected the State for more than a decade now.
“When Nura came on board as the Coordinator of the scheme in the state, he met a lot of operational challenges that borders on Corps Welfare and Security, Staff motivation, non – payment of Corps Members’ State allowances for several months, ineffective relationship with the scheme’s critical stakeholders in the state among other numerous challenges.
“As an administrator par excellence, he conceptualized strategies to tackle the problems. His first task was the resuscitation of good and effective relationship with the critical stakeholders of the scheme in the state.
“Nura succeeded in reinvigorating the relationship by bringing all NYSC stakeholders on the same page with the Scheme for effective and smooth operations. Most important in this regard was having a robust discussion with His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum regarding the general welfare of the Corps Members serving in the state.
“Considering the sincerity of purpose of the Coordinator, Governor Zulum approved the payment of all outstanding allowances of both serving and outgone Corps Members of over N350 million into their accounts and since then the payment continues unabated,” a statement on some of the successes recorded by Nura noted.
The Coordinator also facilitated the appointment of a Desk Officer for NYSC Matters in the Executive Governor’s Office which helped in placing the welfare and security of Corps members a top priority by the Governor.
He further made his mark within three months of assumption of duty by appealing to securing temporary orientation camp in the state as the permanent orientation camp in the State was then used to accommodate Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) dislodged from their homes by insurgents.
“Through this effort, a high powered committee was set up by the State Government, a brand new temporary orientation camp with state – of – the – art facilities was provided.
“Nura also provided office furniture to replace the old and dilapidated ones.
“At the Orientation camp, he upgraded the camp kitchen from firewood to use of gas, procured many sets of walkie talkie to enhance communication and camp security,” the statement added.
Also at the peak of the COVID -19 Pandemic, Nura mobilized Corps Members to organized series of sensitization campaign on preventing measures and control, in addition to the production of COVID – 19 safety materials such as face masks, hand sanitizers, liquid soaps that were donated to various groups and stakeholders in the State.
Two units of 4-in-1 automatic hand sanitizing machine were equally fabricated alongside Free Medical Services and palliatives provided to the internally displaced persons during the critical period.
Various stakeholders in Borno including Corps Members congratulate the Coordinator for the award and urged him to sustain his good work for the nation and humanity.
In his remarks on the award, Nura Umar showed appreciation to Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina, the Provost Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, College of Peace and Disaster Management, Babbar Ruga, for always hosting the orientation of corps members posted to Borno State in Katsina.
He equally thanked Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno for the placement of top priority to the welfare of Corps Members posted to the state and providing the enabling environment for the smooth operation of the scheme in Borno.
