I had only seen the presidential villa on the news, never thought I’d enter it, let alone shake hands with the President of Nigeria. At one point, I knelt and cried, overwhelmed by how far I’d come. I never thought NYSC would turn into something so great for me.
This is the story of Oghenefejiro Golagha, one of the 210 ex-corpers who received the Presidential Honour.
Please, what’s your name?
My name is Oghenefejiro Golagha, and I am from Udu Local Government Area, Delta State.
When did you go into the National Youth Service?
I graduated from the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, in 2021 and began my NYSC in June 2022, completing it in June 2023.
What was your mindset going into service?
When my deployment letter arrived, I was posted to a state I never expected. I thought I’d remain within the South-South, close to home. So, from the start, my view of the service year wasn’t positive. It was tough adapting to a new community, and even the camp environment was harsh on my skin. From the beginning, it was full of challenges and frustrations that easily stole the joy corps members are meant to feel.
My goal was simply to go, serve, and return. I also hoped to gain experience in the oil and gas industry, but that only happened after my service year.
Where were you posted?
Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Ebonyi State.
Can you walk us through your one-year service experience?
My NYSC journey turned out to be quite interesting. I had a supportive Local Government Inspector, Mrs Gloria Nwankwo, who guided me through all NYSC activities and documentation.
I was assigned to Unity Secondary School in Amechi-Izhia, where I taught physics to SS1–SS3 students and also served as the physics lab supervisor.
Beyond teaching, I joined the Federal Road Safety Corps and served as Vice President under the NYSC scheme. We organised school sensitisation visits, clean-ups, and community projects.
During camp, I became an SDG advocate, and when posted to a community lacking electricity and basic amenities, I applied what I learnt to tackle energy poverty and promote quality education.
You were among the recipients of the recent Presidential Honour. What specific projects do you believe earned you that recognition?
Honestly, when I began NYSC, I never imagined I’d become a Presidential Awardee. My mindset was simply to serve and move on. But by the end, I was fortunate to be recognised.
The aim of NYSC’s Community Development Service (CDS) is to make a meaningful impact in rural communities. I didn’t embark on my projects for recognition; it was a genuine commitment to improve my host community.
In October, I organised a project for the International Day of the Girl Child, promoting quality education and equal opportunities for girls in STEM, social sciences, and the arts. With support from sponsors, we reached 151 female students at Unity Secondary School, distributing sanitary materials and conducting a digital literacy session. The principal said it was the first of its kind in many years.
My second project addressed poor infrastructure, I donated whiteboards to replace dilapidated classroom materials.
The major project was installing 30 solar-powered streetlights (200 watts each). The community used to go completely dark by 6–7 pm, but the lights improved safety and quality of life. As an SDG advocate and petroleum engineering graduate aware of the global energy transition, clean energy was the obvious choice. The project was sponsored by Kola Adesina, Chiefs, and the stakeholders of my community of service.
I also established a JET Club (Junior Engineers, Technicians, and Scientists) to foster student interest in science subjects. The club is still active, sustained by student leaders for the past two years.
Beyond the projects, I believe it was God’s grace that made the award possible. He gave me the vision, wisdom, and resources. I ensured proper documentation and obtained approvals from the Local Government Chairman, Zonal Inspector, and NYSC Ebonyi State office.
Sustainability mattered to me; I regularly checked the lights, followed up on maintenance, and refused to abandon any project. I believe the key factors considered for the award were impact, sustainability, and proper documentation.
How did the community react to these projects?
Most of the people I worked with were villagers, and I say that with pride, being a village girl myself. I remember using a kerosene lantern to light a small room, but seeing people completely content with total darkness was still shocking.
They must have prayed for light for years, so when it finally came through a corps member, their joy was overwhelming. The chiefs, the king, and community members fully supported the project, contributing sand, granite, labour, and other materials.
The night we switched on the first lights, the excitement was unforgettable. People gathered as if blessings were raining down. Some lights faced residential areas, and students began reading under them at night. One was installed at the market square, keeping the market active even after dark.
Their joy was massive. They prayed for me then, and still do. For me, that means more than the award itself. Even two years later, I still feel deeply fulfilled knowing the project changed lives.
Who would you say has contributed to your success?
I owe special thanks to my Local Government Inspector, Mrs Gloria Nwankwo, a remarkable woman who became like a mother to me. She guided my dreams into reality, and now celebrates me as a Presidential Award recipient.
My gratitude goes to all my sponsors; Mr. Kola Adesina, Marietta Mba, Mrs. Tracy Akinmoji, Dr. F.B Owoyemi, Orchids Empowerment Foundation, Don K Graphixs, Grace Ojiji, Frugal Empowerment Foundation, and Aquamark Integrated Services.
I also thank my community King, chiefs, and elders of Amechi-Izhia for their generosity.
To my school principal, thank you for making my teaching experience pleasant. I appreciate my Corps members in Ohaukwu Local Government, Ebonyi State, particularly at my PPA, for supporting my projects and Ibramas Ideal Tech. LTD for handling the construction/installation phase of the Streetlights.
Special thanks to my parents; Mr & Mrs. Lugard Golagha, Pastor. Collins Ovie, Engr. Anderson Reuben, Mr. Samson Ogoru, Dr. Wilson Osung, Abioye Banjoko, Promise Ekeh, family and friends including every amazing person God used to bless me.
I also appreciate the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists NAPE and Women in Geosciences and Engineering WiGE, whose platform helped secure much of my support, including the solar streetlight project.
This NYSC journey was challenging at first, but it became truly rewarding because of you all. To God be all the glory.
You’ve said that your biggest joy was the people’s prayers and happiness. But what was it like receiving an award from the President of the country?
Before even talking about the Presidential Honour, just being at the Villa was beyond anything I ever imagined. I had only seen it on the news, never thought I’d enter it, let alone as a village girl shaking hands with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I knelt and cried, overwhelmed by how far I’d come. I never thought NYSC would turn into something so good, so great for me.
Attending the presidential dinner freely, without protocol, just because I was an awardee, was unforgettable. Being decorated in national colours, called an ambassador of Nigeria through NYSC, it was all too beautiful.
What made it even more special was having my parents there. Seeing them dance and celebrate with so much joy was priceless. All the benefits that followed were things I never saw coming. Honestly, I never thought of recognition; my plan was just to serve and move on. But looking back two years later, I’m amazed at how well I used the opportunity God gave me. It was truly remarkable.
What are some of the perks of the Presidential Honour?
Some of the benefits included a scholarship up to the PhD level in any federal university of choice in Nigeria, a cash prize of ₦250,000, which has already been paid, and an automatic job in the federal civil service.
That’s wonderful. Two years after service, how has it been so far?
It’s been challenging, but never too much for me. I’m the founder of Lecture_Hub, an e-learning platform.
I’ve been building this platform for five years, and we’ve contributed significantly to quality education for graduates, students, and young professionals across Nigerian universities. Lecture_Hub is a growing community that spans geosciences, engineering, social sciences, arts, and STEM, now including members from about three countries.
Beyond lectures, we equip people with relevant skills for the oil and gas, energy, accounting, and mechatronics industries. We provide software, resources, and connect learners with industrial mentors, professionals with over 10 to 15 years of experience, to guide and help them build their careers.
Lecture_Hub became a household name during the COVID lockdown, when we began hosting weekly webinars to keep students engaged. Since then, it has directly benefited over 100 individuals and now has around 800 members. Some participants have gone on to secure jobs in geological services, thanks to the skills they gained.
In the next five to ten years, what are your goals, personally and professionally?
In the next five years, by God’s grace, I hope to be married and settled with my family.
Career-wise, I plan to further my studies. I once worried about funding, but the Presidential Honour came with a fully funded scholarship up to PhD level, which I see as a divine provision.
I also look forward to being gainfully employed and growing into a professional role in the oil and gas industry. As someone passionate about mentoring, especially girls in STEM who often struggle with career direction or industry access, I want to use my experience to guide others.
For Lecture_Hub, I envision international affiliations that will accredit our certificates, making them recognised qualifications in the industry. I also hope for national partnerships, perhaps with the Ministry of Education, to formally recognise our free services.
My dream is to grow Lecture_Hub beyond Nigeria and the three countries we currently serve (including Uganda), into a truly global platform where anyone can access skills, certification, and industry recognition.
Finally, I aspire to be a strong ambassador for the SDGs and even the United Nations. Seeing people struggle fuels my drive to raise my voice and visibility for humanity.
Finally, what would you say to youths who want to do good but feel stuck by a lack of funds or direction?
Many of us don’t realise what we’re capable of until we’re pushed, NYSC does just that. It sends you to unfamiliar places where you don’t know the language, culture, or even how to greet properly. But those challenges are opportunities in disguise, and I always advise corps members to embrace them.
I didn’t choose Ebonyi State, but halfway through, I stopped sulking and decided to make a difference. As a Christian, I believe if God sends you to help, He’ll also provide the means, and He did.
People often fear that helping others means neglecting themselves, but NYSC is the one year you can serve others and still discover yourself.
So what can you do? First, carry a notepad, jot down every idea. Go back to the basics: the NYSC CDS manual is full of practical suggestions. If you approach service with the mindset of giving back, you’ll see results.
NYSC isn’t a solo journey. Use your professional body and mentors; they can offer guidance, support, and even funding. That’s how I pulled off the International Day of the Girl Child project.
Focus on what your community truly needs; it doesn’t have to be big. It could be benches, blackboards, or calculators. Do a cost analysis, draft a proposal, and reach out to local leaders, foundations, or the NYSC office. Even if you don’t get all the funds, scale it down. What matters is the impact. Sometimes, all it takes is one small effort, and the prayers you receive are worth more than any award.
First of all, I would like to give thanks to God Almighty for everything He has done for me, from the very beginning, through to the end of one chapter, and now at the start of a new journey. I know my journey has only just begun. The last one was over twenty years ago, and this is a new phase in my life. I give God all the glory for everything He has accomplished through me in service to my community.
I am grateful to the NYSC for the opportunity to make a positive impact in every community we are posted to. It is indeed a privilege and a source of pride to be part of the NYSC scheme.
