Susan Monday, Reports for Abuja Bureau
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has challenged the 2021 set of National Youth Service Corp Presidential Honours recipients not to rest on their oars.
Dare advised the awardees not to allow the fire for public service that has been ignited in them, leading to their national recognition, to become extinguished.
One hundred and ten(110) Presidential Honours awardees represented by ten of their colleagues had paid a courtesy visit on the Minister in his office at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja and also presented him an award for the role he played in facilitating the recognition.
The awardees promised to continue to serve with distinction and partner the government using their positive energy and enthusiasm for national growth and development.
The Minister, while receiving the award, told them the appreciation given him should be for President Muhammadu Buhari.
“I think the appreciation should first go to President Muhammadu Buhari for keeping the Awards alive and also expanding the opportunities they confer.
“There is reward for excellence in public service. It may not be in financial terms or material gains but in recognition, commendation, satisfaction and the experience gained that would help you in other areas of your lives,” Dare said.
One of the benefits of the Presidential Award is automatic employment in the Federal Ministry and the Minister urged the recipients to stay relevant in their areas of influence thereafter.
“Continue to break new grounds and develop innovative ideas that will positively impact the places where you work. Keep that fire that made you Presidential Honours awardees burning.
“In the National Youth Policy, there are 13 thematic areas that are the core of our mandate. Find your area of influence and relevance and make impact along any of these areas.
“There will be challenges and obstacles but keep moving inspite of them, keep adding value just as the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo advised during the National Youth Conference(NYC) last November. You must keep moving forward,” the Minister concluded.