By Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki, Nsa Gill, Calabar, Augustine Okezie, Katsina and Toba Adedeji, Osogbo
Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, has urged Corps members to shun acts capable of promoting disunity and division in the country.
Ibrahim spoke yesterday during the swearing-in ceremony of Batch “B” Stream “1” Corps members at the temporary NYSC Orientation Camp in Amada, Gombe State.
He urged the Corps members to be ambassadors of peace and unity.
“Always promote the unity of the country. Let the spirit of NYSC lives in you.
“As nation builders, you must refrain from all forms of cybercrimes. Drive your vision with passion; do not cut corners,” he said.
NYSC State Coordinator Mrs. Ada Imoni said the Corps members were expected to participate in four cardinal programmes during the service year.
These are: orientation course, primary assignment, community development service (CDS) and passing-out parade (POP), which she said were designed to instill the core values of the scheme in members for effective and efficient service delivery during the service year.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 1,365 corps members, comprising 650 males and 715 females, were registered during the orientation exercise.
Figures from this year’s orientation camps showed that there are more females than their male counterparts in some states.
Out of the 2,260 Corps members who were sworn in in Delta State, 1,230 were females while 1,030 were males.
In Plateau State, there were 1,822 Corps members, comprising 888 males and 934 females.
In Gombe State, out of the 1,365 participants, 715 were females while 650 were males.
The trend was prevalent in Nasarawa and Osun states where 922 and 1,036 NYSC members were females, while 797 and 753 were males, respectively, out of 1,719 and 1,789 Corps members in both states.
State Coordinators stressed the need for Corps members to acquire skills and preserve the nation’s unity during their service year.
Read Also: NYSC Director urges SWAN to champion sports revival
They advised Corps members to quell the agitation for succession and work for the peaceful coexistence of Nigerians across the country.
Osun State NYSC Coordinator Adewale Adegoke said: “I want you all to know that your role in ensuring that our identity as one nation is preserved is very critical at a time like this. I want you, as true compatriots, to commit yourself to the tenets of national integration and unity.”
Ebonyi State Chief Judge, Justice Elvis Ngene, who was represented by Justice Iheanachor Patrick Chima, swore in 1,518 Corps members at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp at Old MacGregor College in Afikpo North Local Government Area.
NYSC State Coordinator Mrs. Bamai Mercy Dawuda said camp life is regimented but well packaged to instill discipline, resilience, hard work and commitment to enable participants tackle the challenges of the service year in their places of primary assignments.
Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa urged the Corps members to take the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) initiative of the scheme serious.
NYSC State Coordinator in Plateau, Ms. Caroline Embu, advised the Corps members to adhere strictly to the basic safety protocols throughout the service year.
NYSC State Coordinator in Jigawa, Hajiya Aishatu Adamu, explained that the skills acquisition was meant to make them self-reliant and employers of labour.
“During this orientation period, you are encouraged to choose a skill for yourself and be self-employed after the service year,” she said.
Cross River State Coordinator Zemoh Andrew advised the Corps members to understand and respect the culture, tradition and taboos of their hosts.
He appointed Adesiya Joshua with State Code Number CR/21B/966 as the maiden Corps Camp Director.
In Nasarawa, the State Coordinator, Abdullahi Jikamshi, urged the corps members to avoid unnecessary journeys, especially travelling without permission.
Mr. Frank Onah was appointed as the first corps member Co-Camp Director at the camp, while the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Aisha Aliyu, who was represented by Justice Samuel Ayiwulu, administered the oath of allegiance to the Corps members.
In Katsina, the NYSC State Coordinator, Alhaji Ahidjo Yahaya, advised the Corps members against relocation.
“Females shall be relocated on ground of health and marital issues while the males can only be relocated on grounds of ill-health,” he said.
The Borno State Coordinator, Alhaji Nura Umar, assured the Corps members of security and safety during their stay in the state.
In Ekiti, the NYSC State Coordinator Mrs. Mary Chikezie said the scheme will soon inaugurate a Camp Court to try erring corps members.
Leave a Reply