NYSC DG visits ailing Adetiran, composer of corps anthem, supports him with cash gift - NIGERIAN NEWSORBIT

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Thursday, July 15, 2021

NYSC DG visits ailing Adetiran, composer of corps anthem, supports him with cash gift


The  Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC), Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, on Thursday paid courtesy visit on Dr. Oluwole Adetiran, the man who composed the NYSC Anthem in 1984, with an assurance that the agency would not abandon him in his trying moment.

Ibrahim, who led a high-powered delegation of the NYSC to the residence of Adetiran who recently turned 74, at Ibafo in Obafemi-Owode council area of Ogun State, presented him with an undisclosed cash gift. 

The  NYSC Director General said he learnt on Saturday, through the social media that the composer of the NYSC's anthem was  seriously ill and he thought that the man deserved to be visited.

"I just got to know about five days ago by a good Samaritan who posted the message on the social media. I decided to follow up on the phone number that was dropped on the social media. I made my investigations and decided to come here from Abuja to visit him," he said.

Ibrahim described Adetiran as a patriotic Nigerian whose contributions to the scheme through  the composition could not be quantified in monetary terms and which would live beyond him.

The NYSC boss noted that the wordings of the anthem were quite philosophical  and have continued to be a source of inspiration to serving and past corp members to put the nation first wherever they found themselves.

"The wordings of the anthem have been so inspiring to our corp members and you will observe that they are everywhere serving the nation".

"They are always involved in the conduct of elections, population census and their contributions during the heat period of the Covid-19 pandemic and other national assignments have been tremendous".

"This visit is partly to encourage our corp members and our youths that when you serve and honour your country, then your country will not forget you," he said.

He urged the corp members to continue to meditate on the wordings of the anthem so as to be  propelled continually to render selfless servce and be agents of unity for the nation.

He also pledged to place Adetiran's photograph in a conspicuous area of the newly built NYSC museum in Abuja.

Adetiran who bursted into tears as he responded said his heart leapt for joy at the sight of the powerful delegation.

He explained that he had been inflicted with  multiple diseases including hypertension, diabetes and prostrate cancer since 2018, adding that he had once  fallen into coma for two days. 

Adetiran who studied music at  the University of Nigeria, Nsuka, recalled that he composed the NYSC anthem in 1984 while he was a corp member in Oyo state.

"I was the leader of an NYSC group called 'The anthem group' and the then Chief Inspector saddled us with the responsibility of raising an anthem for the NYSC.

"It was nothing difficult for me because while my friends went to study various courses in the university, I went for my passion, which was music".

"While other corp members were not showing much interest in the assignment, I went home and spent quality time and composed the anthem to the admiration of all and I still have the manuscripts till today,"he said.

Adetiran who rendered the anthem with a special choir that he had raised commended the D.G for the visit which he considered as a mark of honour.

Adetiran who is the National Music Director of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) said he could not believe in his wildest imagination that a person in the status of the NYSC Director General could ever visit him in his small abode.

"I thank God for opening a book of remembrance concerning me for my labour of love," he said.

Adetiran was the Head of Music Department at the Polytechnic Ibadan, between 2003 and 2007 and retired as a lecturer in 2008.

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