In a rare show of compassion and commitment to service, a serving corps member in Ogun State, Folahan Olayiwola, has donated his entire National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) allowance to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta.
Olayiwola, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University and former president of the university’s Student Union, saved his monthly stipends throughout the service year, using the sum of ₦640,000 to purchase three wheelchairs and four pairs of crutches for physically challenged patients at the hospital.
Speaking on what inspired the donation, the corps member said he was moved by the struggles of underprivileged patients who lacked basic mobility aids.
“Serving Nigeria goes beyond wearing a uniform or going to work daily. It is about touching lives, leaving people better than you met them. I wanted to make my service year count,” Olayiwola stated.
He explained that instead of spending his allowance on personal needs, he made a conscious decision to sacrifice his comfort for a cause greater than himself.
“Every month, I put aside my allowance, trusting God that I would stay healthy and that this dream would become reality. I didn’t do it for recognition. I did it because I believe we can all contribute meaningfully, no matter how little,” he added.
Officials of the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, who received the donation, commended the gesture, described it as “an extraordinary act of kindness from a young Nigerian who truly understands the spirit of national service.”
The story of Olayiwola’s donation has since gone viral, attracting widespread admiration from fellow corps members, youth organizations, and members of the public, many of whom described him as a role model in a time when genuine acts of service are becoming rare.
