The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kogi has entered a new phase following the retirement of State Coordinator, Mr Femi Oshungbohun, after 33 years of service.
He handed over to Mrs Chika Touchi Chris-Moneke at a send-off ceremony held on Tuesday in Lokoja, marking the close of a long career.
Oshungbohun, who joined the scheme in 1992, retired upon attaining the mandatory civil service age of 60.
Reflecting on his journey, he expressed gratitude for completing his tenure in good health and without regrets.
“I started this journey in 1992 and here I am, finishing the race healthy and without regret.
“There is no greater honour from the Almighty than that,” Oshungbohun added.
He described his career as marked by ups and downs, insisting that “the ups were many and far weightier than the downs.”
The outgoing coordinator described his exit as gracious, noting that his greatest legacy would be corps members who “go out there and add value to society.”
He commended Gov. Ahmed Usman Ododo for supporting the scheme and urged corps members to prioritise service over convenience.
Oshungbohun praised staff for their cooperation and urged them to extend the same support to the new coordinator.
He also called for sustained mentorship of corps members, saying Nigeria would benefit from their development.
The new coordinator, Chris-Moneke, thanked staff for their warm reception and loyalty to her predecessor.
“Together, we will build NYSC Kogi and Nigeria in general,” she said
She pledged to prioritise the welfare of corps members and staff while adopting programmes to improve service delivery.
Chris-Moneke appealed for continued cooperation and strengthened collaboration with the Kogi government.
The event attracted goodwill messages from government officials, security agencies and partner organisations.
Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Monday Anyebe, described Oshungbohun as “an always joyful man” who made a great impact.
Anyebe urged him to sustain his service to humanity and assured the new coordinator of government support.
Also present were Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr Yahaya Farouq, and representatives of security and regulatory agencies.
Staff of NYSC Kogi praised Oshungbohun’s humility and open-door policy, describing him as “not just a boss but a friend and brother.”
They pledged unwavering support to Mrs Chris-Moneke to ensure her success and the growth of the scheme.
The ceremony featured a cake-cutting and presentation of gifts to celebrate the retiree.
