The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Corps

  • Corps member builds toilet for school

    A 2012 Batch ‘B’ member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Miss Ogochukwu Okoro, has donated three toilets to the Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammar School, Akungba-Akoko.

    Miss Ogochukwu, an indigene of Anambra State and a graduate of Microbiology from the Anambra State University, Uli, also donated 12 school uniforms and 10 pairs of sandals to indigent pupils in the school.

    She said the materials and facility cost about N800,000, praising the management of AAUA and some staff of the university for their contributions to the project.

    She said: “I thank God for giving me the grace to make people happy. I want to specially appreciate Prof Femi Mimiko, the Vice-Chancellor of AAUA, and the members of staff for their support during the course of the project.”

    The Corps member, who said she was fulfilled with the handing over of the facility to the secondary school, noted: “Life is not just how happy you are but how happy others can be through you. I have always had the desire to affect the society positively; that is why I embarked on project we are inaugurating today.”

    Thanking the Corps member, the Principal, Mr Sulaiman Arogundade, who was excited by the project, said: “It is a surprise for us that a Corps member could have the wisdom to do something like this. Imagine, a Christian corps member executing a project of this magnitude in a Muslim school.”

    He said the Corps member had demonstrated good leadership ability and prayed to God to give her grace to contribute more to the society.

    The NYSC Zonal Inspector, Mr A.O. Ogunfidodo, praised Ogochukwu for exhibiting one of the core motives of the NYSC scheme.

    The inspector called on individuals, communities, corporate bodies and government agencies to continue to give support to Corps members in their areas, stressing that such support would enhance the development of the society.

    A special prayer session was held for the Corps member by pupils of the school. The Akungba chapter of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria conferred a title of Yeye Atunluse Adinni of Akungba land on the Corps member, while the beneficiary school honoured her with a plaque of meritorious award.

  • Lagos Corps members donate blood

    Lagos Corps members donate blood

    Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Lagos have donated blood in a voluntary blood donation programme organised by the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC) in the Orientation Camp, Ipaja, Lagos.

    During the two-day exercise, the Corps members were told how they could contribute their quotas to national development and be responsible citizens during their service year.

    The blood donation drive was to get the youths involved in saving patients, who may be in need of blood at any point in time, thus make blood readily available in the blood bank of hospitals.

    The donors used the opportunity to undergo medical test such as HIV, Hepatitis and Syphilis. Their blood pressure, sugar level and height were also tested.

    Ayo Onalapo, one of the donors, said the government should make blood donation lively, saying many volunteers were unable to donate blood because they could not stand the stress of going to the hospital to queue for hours.

    Henry Ugezene, another donor, said he felt good parting with a pint, adding that people should not be afraid but rather make it a culture.

    Imo Uzoma, Corps member, said the exercise should be voluntary because “it is to save the lives of others”. He urged government not to sell donated blood to patients in need of it.

     

  • Why I sell books, by Corps member

    Why I sell books, by Corps member

    Aware of the scarcity of white collar jobs, some graduates, especially members of the National Youth Service Corps, are taking to self-employment.

    One of such graduates is Saduden Moshood Abiola, who graduated from the Lagos State University (LASU).

    Moshood, who studied Biology Education, is currently serving in Ondo State. A Batch ‘A’ Corps member, he is on his primary assignment at Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo.

    Not satisfied with the paltry monthly allowance given to Corps members, he decided to pick up another job to complement the monthly allowance he receives.

    Apart from running private lessons for secondary school students, he also sells books.

    Moshood markets all kinds of books, especially inspirational ones. Such books as 48 Laws of Power; The Secret of Success; Talent is not Enough, among other collections are always on display at his book stand.

    Newsextra encountered him at the convocation ceremony of Adeyemi College of Education.

    Decked in his NYSC uniform, Moshood, a native of Ilorin in Kwara State, humbled himself at his book stand attending to customers who had come for the convocation ceremony unmindful of the discomfort from the scorching sun.

    For him, the event was an opportunity to make quick money as he claimed that he sold more than 200 books during the week-long occasion.

    According to him, he has always loved to be self-reliant; which informed his decision to further his education after graduating from Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education where he studied Integrated Science.

    He said: “After graduating from the college of education, I pondered over what the future holds in store for me. After a critical reflection on the economic situation in the country, I concluded that there was need to further my education. I must acquire more knowledge if I would be successful in life.

    “Although it was rough and tough, I had to go for more qualifications. This is so because in our present society, one must have good qualification in order to get good job.”

    With the current situation in the country, Moshood believes that getting white collar job may be difficult. The way graduates search for job has continued to give him sleepless nights.

    “It has always given me serious concern the way our graduates search for job. It is sad that we have found ourselves in this situation where you have to search for job endlessly.

    “I have seen a situation where about 20,000 people applied for just 20 job vacancies. How is it possible for a sizeable number of applicants to get job in such situation? Nigeria has become a country where merit does not count any more. It has become a situation where who you know counts in getting a job.

    “If you don’t know any highly placed individual in the society, you may not get a job no matter how good your grade is,” he lamented

    This uncomplimentary situation might have spurred Moshood to venture into book selling. As a married man, he knows it is his responsibility to fend for his immediate and extended families which the monthly allowance he receives will not be enough to take care of.

    “I realised that I can no longer survive on my allowance. So, I had to look for a way to survive. Apart from running a private home lesson with a friend, I also sell books to make ends meet.

    “As somebody who is conversant with Lagos, I go there to buy books at wholesale rate and comedown to Ondo to sell them on different occasions. The gain I make on the sales is more than what I earn as allowance from the Federal Government and the management of Adeyemi College of Education.

    “In Nigeria, you have to think fast and be ready to diversify. If I get job after the NYSC year, I will be happy. But if there is no job, I will continue to sell books to take care of my family. I am not ashamed that as a graduate I hawk books around,” he said.

    Moshood said he plans to own a large bookshop in no distant time. All he needs, he said, is N500, 000.

    Although he has been saving part of his allowances and the proceeds from the sale of books, he believes opening a book store will assist him in realising his dreams.

    He said: “I need good amount of money to expand this business. If I can get up to N500, 000 to invest in this business, I will become a millionaire within one year.”

    Moshood has words of advice for his colleagues who are still waiting to get white collar jobs. He opined that youths should endeavour to learn one trade or the other in addition to their educational qualifications.

    “It is true that most youths want to have lucrative jobs. They want to work in oil companies and banks. But in the face of the high rate of unemployment, they need to change their attitude and be self-reliant.

    “They need to make use of their brains and God-given talents to survive. There are other skills to acquire like tailoring and welding. If one is good in these trades in addition to one’s educational qualification, one will surely excel,” he said.

  • Why I sell books, by Corps member

    Why I sell books, by Corps member

    ware of the scarcity of white collar jobs, most Nigerians; especially Youth Corps members, have decided to be self-employed.

    Some that have some job offers are also not depending on their remunerations as they would not be enough to take care of their individual needs. They, therefore, take up other menial jobs so as to make ends meet.

    As a result of this, some graduates are ready to venture into some ‘odd jobs’ instead of waiting for non-existent white collar jobs.

    One of such graduates is Saduden Moshood Abiola, who graduated from the Lagos State University (LASU).

    Moshood, who studied Biology Education, is currently serving in Ondo State. A Batch ‘A’ Corps member, he is carrying out his primary assignment at Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo.

    Not satisfied with the paltry monthly allowance given to Corps members, he decided to pick up extra job to complement the monthly allowance he receives.

    Apart from running private lessons for secondary school students, he also ventured into sale of books.

    Moshood sells all kinds of books; especially inspirational one at different occasions. Such books as 48 Laws of Power; The Secret of Success; Talent is not Enough, among other collections are always on display at his book stand.

    Newsextra encountered him at the convocation ceremony of Adeyemi College of Education.

    Decked in his NYSC uniform, Moshood, a native of Ilorin in Kwara State, humbled himself at his book stand attending to customers who had come for the convocation ceremony unmindful of the discomfort from the scorching sun.

    For him, the event was an opportunity to make quick money as he claimed that he sold more than 200 books during the week-long occasion.

    According to him, he has always loved to be self-reliant; which informed his decision to further his education after graduating from Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education where he studied Integrated Science.

    He said: “After graduating from the college of education, I pondered over what the future holds in store for me. After a critical reflection on the economic situation in the country, I concluded that there was need to further my education. I must acquire more knowledge if I would be successful in life.

    “Although it was rough and tough, I had to go for more qualifications. This is so because in our present society, one must have good qualification in order to get good job.”

    With the current situation in the country, Moshood believes that getting white collar job may be difficult. The way graduates search for job has continued to give him sleepless nights.

    “It has always given me serious concern the way our graduates search for job. It is sad that we have found ourselves in this situation where you have to search for job endlessly.

    “I have seen a situation where about 20,000 people applied for just 20 job vacancies. How is it possible for a sizeable number of applicants to get job in such situation? Nigeria has become a country where merit does not count any more. It has become a situation where who you know counts in getting a job.

    “If you don’t know any highly placed individual in the society, you may not get a job no matter how good your grade is,” he lamented

    This uncomplimentary situation might have spurred Moshood to venture into book selling. As a married man, he knows it is his responsibility to fend for his immediate and extended families which the monthly allowance he receives will not be enough to take care of.

    “I realised that I can no longer survive on my allowance. So, I had to look for a way to survive. Apart from running a private home lesson with a friend, I also sell books to make ends meet.

    “As somebody who is conversant with Lagos, I go there to buy books at wholesale rate and comedown to Ondo to sell them on different occasions. The gain I make on the sales is more than what I earn as allowance from the Federal Government and the management of Adeyemi College of Education.

    “In Nigeria, you have to think fast and be ready to diversify. If I get job after the NYSC year, I will be happy. But if there is no job, I will continue to sell books to take care of my family. I am not ashamed that as a graduate I hawk books around,” he said.

    Moshood said he plans to own a large bookshop in no distant time. All he needs, he said, is N500, 000.

    Although he has been saving part of his allowances and the proceeds from the sale of books, he believes opening a book store will assist him in realising his dreams.

    He said: “I need good amount of money to expand this business. If I can get up to N500, 000 to invest in this business, I will become a millionaire within one year.”

    Moshood has words of advice for his colleagues who are still waiting to get white collar jobs. He opined that youths should endeavour to learn one trade or the other in addition to their educational qualifications.

    “It is true that most youths want to have lucrative jobs. They want to work in oil companies and banks. But in the face of the high rate of unemployment, they need to change their attitude and be self-reliant.

    “They need to make use of their brains and God-given talents to survive. There are other skills to acquire like tailoring and welding. If one is good in these trades in addition to one’s educational qualification, one will surely excel,” he said.

  • Corps members preach entrepreneurship

    Parents and guardians have been advised to pay attention to the academic and vocational ability of their wards to prepare them for the future. Three Corps members serving in Anambra State – Olatunji Ojuola, Dina Ayodele and Idehen Frank made the charge during a skill acquisition programme organised for the pupils of Holy Ghost Academy Secondary School, Ring Road, Awka.

    The pupils were trained on four vocations that could benefit them. They were taught how to make domestic products such as liquid soap, disinfectant, air freshener and body perfume.

    Olatunji, a graduate of Electrical Engineering from the University of Ibadan (UI) advised the pupils to see entrepreneurship as the alternative to white-collar jobs.

    Another Corps member, Mary Oladosu, who facilitated a session during the seminar, counselled the pupils on challenges of unemployment, saying entrepreneurship remains the solution. She advised the pupils to develop their vocation skills now.

  • Minister promises review of corps members’ allowance

    The Minister of Youth Development,Inuwa Abdulkadir, has said the Federal Government would review National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members’ allowance.

    Abdulkadir was addressing corps members mobilised under the 2013 ‘Batch A’ orientation programme in Kano and Jigawa states.

    He said the welfare of corps members remains the priority of the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

    A statement by the minister’s Chief Press Secretary, Olusola Abiola in Abuja, said the Federal Government is committed to implementing the various multi-sectoral youth employment and empowerment programmes.

    He said: “ There are so many schemes the Federal Government has mapped out to provide jobs and economic empowerment for the increasing army of job seekers and unemployed graduates all over the country.”

  • A Corps member’s mission to save lives

    A Corps member’s mission to save lives

    Market women and artisans at the Ojuwoye Market, Mushin, Lagos, participated in a free medical programme organised by Dr Biodun Awosusi, a Batch “A” Corps member. WALE AJETUNMOBI reports.

    What could have brought the ever-bustling Ojuwoye Market in Mushin, Lagos, to a halt during business hours? It was a free health mission.

    Last Friday, traders and artisans left everything to attend to health issues. As if on cue, when the medical team of Corps members arrived at the market, many market women and petty traders rushed out to be treated.

    It was organised by a Batch “A” 2012 Corps member, Dr Biodun Awosusi, to prevent death from hypertension and diabetes. The programme was tagged Here 2 Heal Medical Outreach.

    Last month, hundreds of traders benefited from the first edition of the outreach held on the premises of Government College, Eric Moore, Surulere. The programme was supported by the Chairman of Odiolowo-Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area, Hon. Adeyemi Alli, Market Women Association, E-green Services , Bond Pharmaceuticals, African Health Dialogues, GlaxoSmithKline and Ilupeju Today.

    Members of the Lagos State Health Volunteers Scheme monitored the event.

    Lagos State coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi praised the Corps member for embarking on the health mission, urging others serving in the state to emulate him.

    She spoke through her representative, Mrs Yetunde Baderinwa, who expressed surprise at the large turnout of women for the outreach. She encouraged the beneficiaries to always use drugs and seek medical help when the need arises.

    She said: “This medical outreach will be a waste if you are not here. It is a laudable project intended to meet your critical health needs. The tests, consultations and drugs are given free. So I encourage you use your drugs.” Baderinwa also commended Biodun, while urging him to do more.

    Principal Partner, E-green Services, Tayo Olosunde, said the programme would make a great impact on the beneficiaries. “I am very happy we are making so much impact through this outreach. Here are old women, men, traders and all cadres of people who have come to benefit from the medical mission,” he said, adding: “Here 2 Heal is a laudable social enterprise; we shall continue to provide needed support to expand its reach to more people in the state.”

    Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE on why he embarked on the health mission, Dr Biodun said: “Many people have died of preventable diseases because they could not afford to go to hospital for proper treatment. They believe that from the point of diagnose to treatment of diseases will make them spend a lot of money. This is why we embark on this mission to offer the deprived free medical treatment and diagnose. It is meeting critical health needs of the poor, who can barely afford medical services in hospitals.”

    He expressed appreciation to all partners and volunteers who contributed to the success of the project. He praised the Lagos directorate of the NYSC, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr Yewande Adesina, Hon Alli and his vice, Hon Rasaq Ajala, management of the GlaxoSmithKline, and Mike Merchandise for support.

    “The large crowd here underscores the massive need for this kind of service. We will not relent in providing quality health information and affordable healthcare delivery to the people,” Biodun submitted.

    Several participants at the outreach expressed their gratitude to the organisers. Mrs Iyabo Popoola, a trader in the market, prayed for the medical team and urged the Corps member to continue the “good work”.

    Mrs Fatimo Megida, a beneficiary, said: “This is a good programme. There are many people like me who have high blood pressure but who don’t know about it. I cannot imagine what could have happened to me if I did not come out to participate in this programme. I was given drug and advised to always go for medical checkup. I commend the organisers of this programme.”

    Another beneficiary, Kudirat Sanusi, said: “I am glad that my blood pressure measurement was normal. Though, I was counseled on what to do to remain healthy. I thank the Dr Biodun for organising this kind of programme in the market.

     

  • Corps member prepares kids for adolescence

    Corps member prepares kids for adolescence

    As part of his contribution to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Anambra State, a Corps member, Michael Bara, serving in Awka South Local Government, has held an awareness programme for pupils of Golden Bells Nursery and Primary School, Awka.

    The orientation programme was targeted towards preparing the pupils for adolescence period, and how to welcome and handle some physical and developmental challenges associated with those periods.

    Michael, who told the pupils that adolescence period was characterised by a number of changes in individual concerned, said there was need for the pupils to know what to do and who to talk to.

    “Adolescent stage comes with some changes. These changes are accompanied by series of developmental problems, some of which are normal and are expected to occur,” he said. He advised the kids to discuss the observed changes with their parents or teachers but not with their peers.

    The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) graduate of Counselling Psychology emphasised the essence of early sensitisation, saying: “it is important school pupils learn about adolescent stage early and in a formal way.”

    “For years, school system has abdicated the responsibility of orientating pupils on the changes that come with puberty. It is good they learn it formally from the school system. They will know the truth and it will be difficult for anybody to take advantage of them,” he added.

    Michael said the wake up call to these responsibilities must be done in schools because most parents were either too busy to talk about puberty with their wards or they view it as unnecessary. At the end of the session, Bara told CAMPUSLIFE that well-informed pupils will grow to be well-informed adults and ultimately responsible citizens.

    He said plans were in place to create a platform where parents and guardians would be counselled on sex education and how to handle puberty. He said: “Guidance and counselling services are for all levels of education and is aimed at human development. We have counselled the pupils. We need to counselled the parents too, as knowledge is power.”

     

  • 800 corps members redeployed

    Of the 2, 129 corps members posted to Kano State for the Batch C service year, 800 have been redeployed to other states due to security challenges.

    Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso warned that no corps members posted to government establishments should be rejected.

    The state coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Bashir Yakassai, who spoke after the passing-out parade, said: “About 800 corps members have been redeployed out of the 2,129 posted to the state.

    “The doors are still open to whoever wishes to be redeployed for one reason or the other; this is in line with the NYSC guideline.”

    Yakassai said no corps members would be posted to banks or companies they perceive to be lucrative.

    “Instead, they would be posted to rural areas where their services are mostly required, especially in agriculture, health, education sectors while the married ones would serve in the state capital.

  • Fashola urges Corps members to be self employed

    Fashola urges Corps members to be self employed

    Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Raji Fashola has urged the outgoing NYSC Batch C Corps members to depend on themselves and not white collar jobs for employment.

    He said this at the passing out of the Corps members last week, at the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos.

    Fashola, who was represented by the Director, General Service Department, Ministry of Special Duties, said the problem of youth employment has become worrisome and a source of concern to all. However, the government is doing so much to curb unemployment, but a lot still needs to be done by private entrepreneurs and yourselves. You need to look inwards because the days of white collar jobs are over.”

    According to him, corps members should not hesitate to put into practice the experience they gained by setting up their own enterprise, no matter how small.

    Saying that by their participation in the NYSC and successful completion, they have contributed immensely in all facets of the economy, Fashola praised their focus and resilience in bringing positive impact to the education, agriculture, health care delivery and environment as a whole.

    In her own speech, the Lagos State NYSC Co-ordinator Mrs Adenike Adeyemi, congratulated the corps members on the successful completion of their service year as she saluted their courage, doggedness and strong will.

     

     

     

    She told them to be reminded of the various lessons they might have learnt in the course of national service, the tenets of hard work, disciplined, honesty, loyalty, patriotism, uprightness, and integrity adding that it will continually be relevant as they climb up in life.

    Adenike urged them to shun social vices like corruptions, nepotism, tribalism, and religious bigotry. “Associate yourselves with people of good quality for it is better to be alone than in bad company. The road to success and the road to failure are almost exactly the same, as you step into the large society, consider the option of maximum utilisation of the creative abilities in you,”she said.

    She noted that among the 8, 165 corps members that served in Lagos, disciplinary measures of repetition of service shall be meted on 21 corps members who absconded while 23 given extension of service ranging from two weeks to two months.

    She also hinted that eight patriots lost their lives during the service year and prayed that their souls rest in peace amen.

    Four corps members Udom Effiong Goodnews, Oubokhan Smart Ekhomtomwen, Chizoba Romanus, and Okoro Benjamin were rewarded the State Honours Award while commendation and attestation certificates were awarded to 25 others.