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Tag: Corps member

NYSC loses five corps members in Kano

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) lost five corps members to death in Kano during the course of their one-year compulsory service to Nigeria.

The Kano state NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Abdullahi Yusuf Baba who revealed this Thursday during the 2015 Batch “A” Passing Out Parade, also stated that 30 corps members who were supposed to round off their programme would be sanctioned for offences ranging from abscondment from service to other irresponsible acts.

According to the NYSC coordinator, 2360 corps members completed their one-year assignment without hitches and would be issued certificate at the end of the parade.

The state coordinator however implored the outgoing corps members to take advantage of the trainings they received in the course of their service year to initiate ideas that will make them self-reliant and impact positively on the nation’s economy.

He also expressed appreciation to the government and people of Kano state for their unflinching support to the scheme at all times.

Represented by Alhaji Abba Ado Tudun Wada, Chairman, NYSC State Governing Board and Youth Empowerment, Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje tasked the corps members to be creative and imbibe the skills of entrepreneurishp.

Ganduje also advised the corps members not to depend on white-collar jobs, adding that the labour market is already saturated, “and we should start thinking of ways to create jobs instead of searching for job or relying on government to provide jobs for you. We have to help the government because the government cannot do it alone.”

“You too could be an employer of labour through engaging in agricultural activities and other small medium jobs. The sky is your limit, and I urge you to make good use of the opportunities around you.”

April 14, 2016
Dumebi, Corps member killed in Rivers, buried

The remains of Okonta Dumebi Samuel, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member killed during the rerun elections in Rivers State, have been laid to rest in his hometown of Illah in Delta State. The body was committed to earth last Friday in Okonta’s family compound after a service of songs held in his honour at the Christ Holy Family Catholic Church, Illah.

The late Dumebi, with state code number RV/15B/5539, was an ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the rerun election. He was killed by yet to be identified gunmen while returning to his base after submitting the poll results at the INEC collation centre in Ahoada West Local Government Area.

In his sermon at the funeral, Reverend Father Peter Mbuogwu, who presided, condemned electoral violence, urging politicians to desist from encouraging thuggery in elections. He said people must fear God, adding that only God gives power to whoever He wishes.

Mbuogwu told the youths to resist attempt by politicians to use them to commit atrocities. He charged them to use their talents for the good of the society. He prayed to God to grant the late Dumebi eternal rest. He said the best way to immortalise the victim was for politicians to respect the sanctity of human life and have peaceful approach towards election.

It was a moment of grief for the family members and mourners, who gathered to perform dust-to-dust rite for the late Dumebi. The family was joined by dignitaries, including a delegation from the NYSC and colleagues of the deceased.

The NYSC Director-General, Brigadier-General Johnson Olawumi, noted that the Corps member died while contributing his quota towards a better country. “The late Dumebi believed in Nigeria, he served and died for Nigeria,” he said.

Speaking through the Director of Corps Welfare and Inspectorate, Mrs Rhoda Kaka Kwaki, Olawumi reaffirmed the directorate’s assistance to the family.

In his message read at the funeral, INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, described Okonta as a “martyr and Nigeria’s hero of democracy”.

Yakubu, represented by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Delta State, Baritor Kpagih, assured that the commission would immortalise the deceased.

April 14, 2016
Rivers re-run election: Slain corps member buried amidst tears

The youth corper who was killed during the re-run election in Rivers State, Samuel Chukwudumebi Okonta was Friday buried amidst tears in his hometown, Illah in Oshimili North council area of Delta State .

Relatives, friends, youth corpers and officials of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) sobbed uncontrollably when the remains of the late graduate of political science were lowered into the grave.

The slain corper was posted to Yobe State last year for his primary assignment, but was redeployed to Rivers State, his birth place for primary assignment until he was engaged as ad hoc staff by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the re-run election.

He had submitted the result of the election in his polling unit to the INEC and was returning home in the same village where he was serving before he was shot along with two others who survived.

Elder brother of the deceased, Ify Henry Okonta at the funeral service at Holy Family Catholic Church described Dumebi as a rare gem, focused and down to earth person adding that Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State had promised to rebuild the NYSC secretariat in Port Harcourt and to rename it after his late brother as a way of immortalizing him.

The casket bearing the late corper arrived in their family house at Ogbe Orji in Illah at about 11.20am from Port Harcourt Friday in an ambulance with registration number Abuja: RSA 414 A accompanied by officials of NYSC in Rivers State led by Mrs. Juliet Ibianuka, Assistant Director Corps Welfare who was also represented the state coordinator, Mrs. Ngozi Nwakeleji.

The head of NYSC delegation from Abuja Mrs. Rhoda Kaka Kwaka who represented the Director General of the Corps Brig. Gen Johnson Olawumi, Delta State co-ordinator, Mrs. Olive Essien Etukudo, and Corps members, Delta state resident Electoral Commission Banitor Kpagih and other INEC officials received the remains of Samuel Okonta.

Highlight of the burial was a novelty football match by Illah Footballers Association (IFA) at Omorka model primary school, to honour one of their own Dumebi who was twice the best player of Steven Keshi football competition in 2006 and 2007 .

Keshi former super Eagles coach is a native of Illah, and according to the chairman of (IFA) Barr. Nelson Okomma, the late corper was a valuable footballer in the community.

In his homily at the funeral services at Holy family Catholic Church Illah Rev. Father Henry Ogonwa advised youths not be discouraged by what the elders are doing in the country but rather to use their potentials to change the course of events.

The cleric who condemned a situation where people want to become leaders at the expense of lives of others noted with sadness that “our brother has become a victim of political class”, charging those who occupied public offices and knew they can no longer serve to give way rather than sitting tight.

He called for the immortalization of the late youth corper who died while on national assignment.

He however enjoined all to pray for Nigeria in other to protect the lives of its citizens.

April 8, 2016
Corps member honoured for donating borehole, library

A National Youth Corps member Okeke Stanley Chima has been conferred with the chieftaincy title of Ozo Ogbenye 1 of Igbudu-Ekka community for sinking a borehole in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Chima also stocked a library at the Community Secondary School, Nkomoro in the council.

Chima said the projects were part of his Community Development Service (CDS), a core part of the NYSC.

He said the initiative was informed by a need to solve a problem as he saw it upon his posting to the community. Chima said the need became an obligation considering that he was accepted and cared for by the people.

He added that the only way he thought he could impact on their lives was through such projects.

He urged the benefit-ting communities to continue to extend the same hospitality showed him to other Corps members that would be posted to the area.

Daisy Girl Foundation, a Lagos-based non-governmental organi-sation whose cardinal objective is to support the development of future national and world leaders, sponsored the two projects.

Mrs Marilyn Maduka, the founder of the foundation said they identified with the Corps member because his CDS initiatives were in tandem with the core objective of the foundation.

She said the foundation was interested in developing education and values especially in the girl-child in Nigeria and beyond.

She urged the communities to make use of the projects as the foundation would visit in near future to inspect and do more projects for them if they could maintain the existing ones.

In their remarks on behalf of Igbudu Ekka, the community Head, Mr Ogbaigbo Emmanuel Ugbala and the youth President, Ogwale Matthew who lauded Corps member and the Foundation said the new borehole has ended the scarcity of water hitherto facing the community.

They said the project was going to unite the people more and prayed God to reimburse them in double fold.

The Principal of community Secondary School (CSS) Nkomoro, Mr Ugama C. C, who commended the Corps member and the foundation said the library was the first of its kind since the establishment of the school in over two decades.

He said the Library would inculcate reading culture in the students and pledged to ensure judicious use of the library.

The member representing Ohaozara East state constituency, Hon. Augusta Udeh who commissioned the projects said he was impressed to be associated with such laudable achievement and thanked the Corps member and the Foundation for the humanitarian services.

Hon. Udeh appealed to the community not to discriminate among themselves on the use of the borehole just as she admonished the students and teachers of CSS Nkomoro to make proper use of the Library.

The state Coordinator of NYSC in Ebonyi state who was represented by Mr Kingsley Ndukwe commended the Corps member for the initiative and urged other corps members to emulate him.

Highlight of the event was the distribution of items such as clothes, beverages, shoes, cream, etc to widows and other villagers by Daisy Girl Foundation.

March 18, 2016
Alleged N1.2b pension scam: How corps member got N23m, by EFCC

AN investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Roukayya Ibrahim, yesterday explained how a corps member was paid N23 million of a N1.2 billion pension fraud.

She also said an IT firm was paid about N153 million for the biometric contract without due process.

The investigator made the revelations while testifying before Justice Abubakar Talba of the FCT High Court at the resumption of the trial of four suspects.

The accused persons are Ibrahim Ahmed Mazangari, Muhammed Sani Sulaiman, Hajia Fatima Mazangari and Saleh Yerima Tsojon.

A statement by EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren said Tsojon, who was on his mandatory NYSC service in Calabar, received pension payment, which amounted to about N23 million.

The statement said: “The trial of Ibrahim Ahmed Mazangari, Muhammed Sani Sulaiman, Hajia Fatima Mazangari and Saleh Yerima Tsojon, who allegedly ran a syndicate that defrauded the Federal Government to the tune of N1.2 billion in a pension scam, continued on Monday (yesterday) with the prosecution witness giving insight into how they carried out the fraud.

“Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel O. A. Atolagbe, the witness, Roukayya Ibrahim, an investigator with the EFCC and a member of the pension fraud team, told the court that the fraud was uncovered in 2010 while the Head of Service Pension Board was being probed.

“We received intelligence of the syndicate operating in Kaduna, led by Hajia Fatima Mazangari, and we immediately commenced investigation.”

According to her, “the accused persons used two companies – Xangee Technologies Limited and Century Construction Company Limited – to perpetrate the fraud.”

“She told the court that Xangee Technologies Limited, which is owned by Mazangari, was offered a biometric contract by a former Head of Service, Steve Oronsaye, to regularise names of pensioners on the pensions’ payroll, but smuggled in names of fake pensioners (including his), and collected unearned pension,” the statement said.

The EFCC investigator said the biometric contract was awarded without due process.

“Investigations showed that Xangee, an IT firm, was paid about N153 million for the biometric contract, but we found out that the process of awarding the contract did not follow due process as there was no contract bidding, yet payment was made,” she said.

The second accused person, according to Roukayya, used three variants of his name to open three different pension accounts, to which about N24 million of pensions were paid; the money was afterwards withdrawn and handed over to Fatima.

The four accused persons are being prosecuted by the EFCC, on a 29-count charge of conspiracy, and obtaining by false pretence.

They were alleged to have obtained N1.2 billion from the Federal Government, purporting same to be monthly pension payable to M. S. Suleiman, Saleh Yerima Tsojon, Isah U. Adamu, Daniel Mikano and Abdulahi Garba Musa, who were falsely held out as pensioners, by inserting their names in the payroll.

Justice Talba fixed November 3, 2015 for further hearing.

November 3, 2015
Corps member donates e-library, borehole to host community

A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Sukurat Yusuf, has donated a borehole and e-library to her host community and place of primary assignment.

The borehole, donated to Ungwar Gayam community, cost about N620,000 and was solely sponsored by the council, while the e-library built in Al-Iman School on Shandam Road was jointly sponsored by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Sulaiman Dikko and Mr. Muhammad Abubakar Liman, House of Representatives member in Lafia Central Constituency.

At the commissioning of the projects, the NYSC Assistant State Director, Greg Anyia, said the Corps member’s gesture to her host community would forever be remembered.

He said: “This lady has not only executed a laudable project in her host community, she has also lifted humanity by her action. She has contributed immensely to education and helped pupils of the school to have access to information online. By her action, she has proffered solution to the yearnings of residents, who daily suffer to get potable water.”

The NYSC Lafia Zonal Inspector, Mr Felix Tomori, applauded the Corps member for the initiative, urging the beneficiary community to properly maintain the facility.

He said: “Sukurat has chosen Lafia to be her second home and she has shown this through her life-changing projects,” he said.

Abdullahi Usman, Secretary to the Local Government, who represented the council boss, promised that the council would not stop assisting Corps members in carrying out their personal projects. He said such would strengthen relationship between NYSC members and their host communities.

The community head, Aliyu Sanda Gayam, said the Corps member had solved one of the greatest challenges facing the community. He said: “Hajia Sukurat has quenched our thirst and I pray to God to solve her own challenges, protect her and always grant her heart desire.”

While expressing joy for successful completion of the projects, Sukurat said she felt the urge to help the community get access to potable water due to her passion to assist people in solving problems.

She said: “I have the passion for community development and to help human satisfy their basic needs. This is what prompted me to embark on the two projects. Water is essential to life and I observe that the major problem in the community is lack of access to potable water. This is why I pooled resources together to sink the borehole.”

On why she donated the e-library, she said: “I noticed that the pupils and teachers of the school lacked access to information. I promised to intervene to enhance the teaching and learning and to also boost reading habits in the pupils.”

At the commissioning of the projects included councillor representing Gayam Ward, Hon. Muhammad Alhaji, principal and staff of Al-Iman School and NYSC officials.

October 22, 2015
Corps member raped, murdered two weeks to wedding

Thirteen days to her wedding and 29th birthday, a corps member, Miss Omolola Abogunrin, has been allegedly murdered by unknown criminals.

She was said to have been murdered in the premises of an agriculture research institute located at Apata area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital last Sunday.

The deceased was said to have been raped and strangled beside a stream within the premises of the institute.

Her lover, Olusola Babalola, has since been arrested and detained by the police.

Residents said the deceased appeared to be returning from church when she was waylaid by the hoodlums.

“We saw semen in her private part and nail wounds around her neck when we found her corpse. That was an evidence that she was raped and strangulated,” a resident who preferred anonymity said.

A family source said: “Omolola was looking forward to her wedding which was scheduled for October 17, the day she would have been 29 years old. She and her fiancée to be held their family introduction four months ago to pave the way for proper marriage ceremony, scheduled to take place at a Christ Apostolic Church in Ibadan.”

The late Omolola graduated from The Polytechnic, Ibadan. She was on the verge of completing her one year National Youth Service Corpse in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, as at the time of her death.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Oyo State, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said Omolola’s corpse has since been deposited at the morgue of the Oyo State Hospital, Adeoyo.

He explained that her lover, Mr Babalola, was arrested and detained as part of police investigation.

“The case has since been transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the command. The Command would make sure the killers are brought to book.”

October 10, 2015
Corps member raped, murdered two weeks to wedding

Thirteen days to her wedding and 29th birthday, a corps member, Miss Omolola Abogunrin, has been murdered by unknown criminals.

She was murdered in a sultry afternoon in the compound of an agriculture research institute located in Apata area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Sunday.

The late Miss Abogunrin was said to have been raped and strangled beside a stream within the expansive premises of the National Cereal Research Institute, Moor Plantation, Ibadan at about 1:30 pm.

Police are still on the trail of the murderers.

The deceased was looking forward to her wedding which was scheduled for October 17, the day she would have been 29 years old.

A close source disclosed that the couple-to-be held their family introduction four months ago, paving the way for proper marriage ceremony.

The wedding was to hold at a Christ Apostolic Church in Ibadan where both lovers live.

It was learnt that sympathizers confirmed rape and strangulation through the semen found on her private part and nail wounds around her neck respectively on discovering her corpse.

Residents said the deceased was returning from church when she was waylaid by the unknown criminals in a bush path within the institute’s farmland. She was said to be on her way to her lover’s house to spend some time with a plan to return home afterwards.

Her lover, Olusola Babalola, has since been arrested and detained by the police.

Omolola graduated from the Polytechnic, Ibadan.

She was completing her one year compulsory national service in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, as at the time of her death.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Oyo State, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said Omolola’s corpse has since been deposited at the morgue of state hospital, Adeoyo.

He explained that her lover, Mr. Babalola, was arrested and detained as part of police investigation on the broad-day murder.

Ajisebutu also disclosed that the case has since been transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the command, stressing that the command would do everything to bring Omolola’s killers to book.

October 9, 2015
Corps member takes pupils on media excursion

A Corps member in Kaduna State, Kemi Busari, has taken pupils of EHCOWS Discovery Academy on a media excursion as part of his Community Development Service (CDS).

No fewer than 60 pupils who are members of the school’s Press Club, visited radio and television stations owned by the Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC) last Tuesday.

They were received at the television station by Mr Musa Muhammad Lawal, who conducted them round the facilities. Some of the sections visited include the control room, library, studio, newsroom and graphics department.

Lawal explained to the pupils how the transmission equipment work. He said: “Every department must work together to create a single picture or video aired on the screen. The transmission process starts from the studio, where audio and video are being sent to the control room. At the control room, some distortions will be made on the audio before it is been sent to the transmitter, which carries it directly to the mast and finally to viewers.”

At the graphics department, the pupils were held spellbound as Mr Jonathan Dauda, the head of the department, explained the task of the section.

Dauda said: “All of you watch cartoon, animations and several other pictures at home. This small section takes care of all the processes involved.”

At the station’s newsroom, the company’s News and Current Affairs Manager, Mr Peter Yaro, engaged the pupils in an interactive session. He advised the students to be good ambassadors of their school and pursue their passion for journalism with vigour.

He said: “If a soldier fires gunshots, he may kill one or two people before the bullet get exhausted. But, a sentence by a journalist can destabilise a country in a matter of seconds. This is why journalism is a professional trade. You must be responsible if you must practise journalism. You must shun bribery and scandalous practice.”

The Corps member took the pupils to Capital Sound, a state-owned radio station. They were received by reporters of the station. They visited the station’s newsroom, programmes and engineering departments.

Some of the pupils had the opportunity to participate in live interviews.

Speaking on her experience, the club’s Editor-in-Chief, Fareedat Muhammad, described the excursion as unforgettable experience.

The Corps member said the trip was borne out of his aim to make the pupils learn journalism skills from the source.

He said: “I have always wanted to impart the knowledge I have on younger people. I had the opportunity of being part of press club in my days at secondary school and I had opportunity to participate in many competitions. So, I see this excursion as a payback.

“The main reason for the excursion is to expose the pupils to the practice and make them to see how the profession is being practised. We achieved our aim, because many of the pupils have shown interest to be journalist.”

June 25, 2015
Police arrest ‘robbers’ over killing of corps member

The Edo State Police Command has arrested two suspected robbers over the killing of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member in Benin, the Edo State capital.

The suspects, Matthais Efe and Dominus Aisabodo, allegedly killed 21-year-old David Onyeasina, who was posted to Edo College on Murtala Muhammed Way in Benin.

Onyeasina was a graduate of Fine and Applied Arts at the Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

He was said to have gone to a shop to buy a recharge card last Saturday when the robbers attacked the shop and shot him dead.

The police said they arrested Efe and Aisabodo during a patrol.

Onyeasina was reportedly hit by a stray bullet as the hoodlums attempted to escape.

Police spokesman Stephen Onwochei, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the arrest of the suspects.

He said items recovered from them include two cut-to-size guns, nine live cartridges, 10 mobile phones and jewellery belonging to their victims.

Onwochei said the police were on the trail of other members of the gang.

He urged the public to assist the police with relevant information.

June 16, 2015