Amidst the daunting challenges and problems faced in 2020, some National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members didn't only render their service to the country, but voluntarily took upon themselves some pivotal responsibilities to offer unconstitutional tasks to humanity.

However, the list of the best members of the scheme for the year 2020 was carefully done by the writer through the provision and availability of well-scrutinised research information, of the efforts and accomplishments of these corps members to their host communities, government, and the country at large.

Nonetheless, below are the names, states and accomplishments of the best corps member heroes for 2020:

1.Olufunke Afesojaye: Is a graduate of English Language from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), who hails from Ondo State. She's a 2019/2020 Batch 'A' corps member in Yobe State. Afesojaye distributed free sanitary pads to over 800 female students in two secondary schools in the state. Also, she built two public toilets as her Community Development Service (CDS) project for the Damaturu community, the state capital and embarked on an aggressive sensitisation of students on menstrual hygiene.

2. Patrick Nyah: Is a corps member of Abia State who built and donated a two-bedroom bungalow to a widow who he saw when she was ejected from her rented apartment by her landlord. According to him, his initial plan was to print about 2,000 copies of exercise books as donation to students of his PPA, Ibere Comprehensive Secondary School but later changed his plan after his encounter with the widow. He said he later went round the community to seek for sponsors towards executing the project. In her response, the widow, Mrs. Blessing Onyekwere, who almost broke down in tears thanked corps member Patrick and prayed God to bless him immensely for his kind gesture towards her and the children.

3. Abdullahi Sani: Is a graduate of Civil Engineering; a Batch 'B' Stream I Kano corps member who on May 11, 2020, intellectually crafted an automated machine that dispensed water and soap. According to reliable sources, he constructed the machine with the intent to support the state government in an effort to tame the horrific pandemic. His words, “The machine will lessen the burden of using hands to press the liquid soap button and hand wash system by users.” Indeed, the corps member has proved right the popular maxim by John Kennedy, "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

4. Arogbonlo Idowu Israel: Is a Kogi born- Ondo State corps member, studied Mass Communication at Kogi State University (KSU) now Prince Audu Abubaker University (PAAU). Corps member Israel donated his one-month stipend on April 8, 2020, to Ondo State government in support to raise funds for the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the country. A good action that made some media juggernauts and persons to label him 'hypocritical corper' (offering government his allowance in bid to receive appointment after service). But despite the backlashes, the gentle corps member went further on October 6, 2020 to execute a project worth thousands of naira by providing a standardised toilet for the pupils of St. Theresa Primary school, a 73-year-old community school who has for long suffered in the hands of open defecation. The aforementioned school is located in the capital city of Ondo. Also, records have it that, the Sunshine corps member still did some other laudable projects in the state that stood him out as one of the best corps members in the history of Ondo NYSC.

5. Joy Chioma Anyaebu: Is a Jos State corps member who produced and donated to the State Government sanitizers and liquid soap in support of the effort to reduce the spread of the deadly Coronavirus. Thus, Anyaebu proudly joined the league of corps members who deepened the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

6. Isa Ismail: Is a graduate of Mass Communication from Bayero University, Kaduna (BUK), served at the Abuja office of Image Merchant Promotion Limited. He made use of his news reporting talent and opinion writing skills in promoting the scheme, youth development and national integrity. He also used is pen as a tool to correct some societal ills. From the records, on June 3, 2020, he was awarded the best corps writer in Abuja by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), for portraying the Scheme in a positive light through several ‘top-notch’ stories and edifying articles, which were published on PR Nigeria, and notable national dailies including The Punch, Daily Trust, The Guardian, The Nation, Tribune, and Blueprint newspapers, among others.

7. Wonah Sunday Owuche: Is a Niger State corps member who donated food packs and sanitary items to the Niger State orphanage home Minna. Owuche has shown us that there is great virtue in kindness and should be extended to all around us.

8. Hodo Bassey: Is a graduate of Tourism and Hospitality Management from Cross River University of Technology, served as a corps member in the aforementioned state. Just like his colleague in Ondo, corps member Bassey donated his March stipend to the Cross River Government to help in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. The donation was received by Dr Betta Edu, the state Commissioner for Health and Head of COVID-19 Taskforce in the state.

Notwithstanding, this list of Top Eight Corps Members Heroes for the year 2020 is awarded by the virtue and record of the good works of the corps members to national development. A statement not to state that only these selected ones performed well as best corps members in 2020. Indeed, the NYSC remains a strategic institution and great asset to the nation. There is no gainsaying the fact that with the Scheme, the nation has put in place an enduring instrument of national cohesion and development, reckoned with, within and beyond the shores of Nigeria.

Omopariola Nehemiah, a student of Mass Communication, writes in from Kogi.

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