Erstwhile National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Miss Victoria Gbadamosi Oluwatosin a.k.a Terkumaiwuese, has returned to her Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) in Lessel, Benue State, about a year after completing her national service, to celebrate the graduation of her former students.
Oluwatosin, who was born in Oyo State, did her mandatory one-year national service at Mbagwa Community Secondary School, Lessel, Ushongo Local Government Area, and was a member of the Environment and Sanitation Community Development Service (CDS) group. She was awarded the Mzehemen U Tiv Foundation’s (MUTF) Woman of the Year prize in 2025.
Sharing her experience in a social media post, Oluwatosin said she had maintained close contact with the students since leaving Lessel, noting that hardly a week passed without receiving calls from at least two of them. According to her, the students kept her informed about their academic activities, including their West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) and National Examination Council (NECO) examinations, and later invited her to attend their graduation ceremony.
She disclosed that although she initially told the students she might not be able to attend because she lacked transportation, one of them offered to send her money for the trip. Determined to make the occasion memorable, she decided to surprise them by attending the ceremony with a cake to add colour to the celebration.
The former corps member said the warm reception she received and the excitement on the faces of the graduating students made the visit worthwhile. She recalled that throughout the event, the students repeatedly expressed their appreciation, addressing her as “Corper Victoria,” “Aunty,” and “Miss,” gestures she said filled her with joy and a deep sense of fulfilment.
Oluwatosin congratulated the graduating class of MCSS 2026, describing the reunion as a reminder of the lasting bond that can exist between teachers and their students.
Her experience has drawn attention to the enduring impact of dedicated corps members and the relationships they build in the course of serving the communities where they are posted.
