My passion to improve lives earned me best award – Corps member

Segun Damilola Olaniyan is a Batch B stream I corps member who served in Edo state for the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps. In this interview with Daily Trust during the recent passing out parade, the Mass Communication graduate urged youths to be selfless and develop passion to improve lives. How do you feel […]

Segun Damilola Olaniyan is a Batch B stream I corps member who served in Edo state for the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps. In this interview with Daily Trust during the recent passing out parade, the Mass Communication graduate urged youths to be selfless and develop passion to improve lives.

How do you feel as the best corps member of this stream? 

I feel great for the recognition of my hand work and this will motivate me because whenever you get commendation, it always spurs you to do more and continue to do good work. I see this as a step for greater things to come in my life.

What would you say gave you this award? 

What I would say is the desire to always give helping hands and make a mark wherever I find myself. I love to help people and as a member of the Junior Chamber International in my tertiary institution days, I love to help and impact peoples’ lives and whenever I see the opportunity to help people, I am always happy. So, I would say hard work, being passionate about helping people and God.

How would you describe the service year?

The service year was very good and impactful, and I can say I am fulfilled because I came with the intention that I am going to make an impact in the community of my primary assignment and God has helped me through NYSC Community Development Service to achieve that. I am grateful for that.

What did you do to earn the award?

My community project includes the installation of 20 solar street lights at Ewohomi, renovation of primary health centre in Egware, construction of 10 chairs and tables for Okaegbe secondary school, donation and distribution of 400 exercise books to students, road description at Uselu junction in Ewohomi, provision of billboards to sensitize people against human trafficking, organised inter-school debate competitions among others.

What were your challenges during the period?

Funding was one of the challenges; the host community did not help me as they do not believe that corps members should execute community projects.

How was your relationship with the host community?

Ewohomi is a peaceful and cool place to live. My relationship was very cordial and because of that, whenever I am ready to do something, they are always ready to give a helping hand. During my community projects, people who happened to pass by while doing the project will definitely render a helping hand.

What is your message to other youths?

We should try not to be selfish because selfishness gives us the mentality of not doing projects in our host community. I am from Oyo state and I did projects in Edo. It is only when you are selfless that you can make impact in places outside your home.