37 years after, man who composed NYSC anthem gets surprise visit from agency’s DG

By YANGE IKYAA

The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Shuaibu, has visited the man who composed the agency’s anthem 37 years ago, while serving as a Corps member.

Rev. Oluwole Adetiran, composed the popular NYSC “evergreen anthem” in 1984, while serving at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The NYSC DG met the 74-year-old Adetiran at his residence in Mowe-Ibafo, Ogun State, in company of other top officials of the federal government agency, whose primary purpose is to unite young Nigerians and give them a sense of oneness and patriotism towards service to one another and the nation.

The NYSC boss, who appreciated the indelible contribution of the septuagenarian to the scheme, assured him of the scheme’s support. Describing the septuagenarian as a patriotic Nigerian, Shuaibu said he decided to identify with Adetiran, following reports in some quarters that he was seriously ill.

“I decided to follow up on the phone number that was dropped on the social media, made my investigations, and decided to come here from Abuja for visit.  This visit is partly to encourage our corps members and our youths that when you serve and honour your country, then your country will not forget you,” he further stated.

Rev Adetiran, who was surrounded by family members during the visit, thanked the NYSC DG and his team from Lagos and Ogun states and expressed surprise and joy at “being remembered in his lifetime, 37 years after composing the NYSC anthem.” He urged the youth to be selfless and dedicated to national development.

“I thank God for opening a book of remembrance concerning me for my labour of love. I was the leader of an NYSC group called ‘the anthem group’ and the then chief inspector saddled us with the responsibility of composing an anthem for the NYSC. I went home and spent quality time to compose the anthem to the admiration of all and I still have the manuscripts till today,” he said.

The NYSC boss called on corps members across the country to be patriotic in service so that they too can be celebrated in the future. He noted that in its 48-year history, more than five million Nigerians had successfully gone through the service, adding further that the scheme remains a veritable tool for national development, with corps members strongly represented in every major stratum of the economy.