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Tag: National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)

  • NYSC to corps members: Shun drugs, unauthorised journeys

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has warned its corps members against hard drugs.

    The scheme also warned its corps members not to embark on unathorised journey.

    Its Director-General, Suleiman Kazaure, gave the warning while addressing Corps Members deployed to Oyo State alongside their counterparts dislodged from Kwara State for the 2018 Batch “B” Stream Two service year undergoing Orientation at Iseyin Camp.

    The NYSC DG, in a statement by the organisation’s Director, Press and Public Relations, Adenike Adeyemi, also warned the corps members against other illicit acts which may endanger their lives.

    According to the statement, Kazaure urged the Corps members to convert every skill acquisition techniques they acquired in camp to become wealth creators during and after the service year.

    Read Also: NYSC DG urges corps members to embrace small businesses

    He also admonished them to leave good legacies in their host communities by providing projects that would ameliorate the sufferings of the residents.

    He urged them to serve as good ambassadors of their families and the NYSC Scheme, adding that outstanding Corps members would be rewarded at the end of the service year.

    Oyo State Coordinator, Mrs Ifeoma Anidobi appealed to the Director-General for assistance by providing more hostels in camp.

    The statement added that Oyo State registered a total of 2,375 Corps Members comprising of 1,235 males and 1,140 females, making 680 for Kwara and 1,695 for Oyo.

  • Umahi doles out N4000m to NYSC

    Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi on Monday doled out N400m for to the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC in Ebonyi State for the renovation of the scheme’s Orientation camp in Afikpko North Local Government Area.

    This is separate from the N5000 travel allowance he directed to be immediately given to each of the 2200 Batch B stream 1 Corps members who ended their orientation course today.

    The governor also gave the corps members who took part in the parade another N2million.

    He also gave out various cash sums to the staff of NYSC and the Military officers who trained the corps members.

    Addressing the corps members, Mr Umahi urged them not to allow themselves be used by politicians to twart the country’s democracy.

    According to him, politicians are planning to rig next year’s election and the corps members owe a duty to the country not to give in to the nefarious plots of such politicians.

    “I have no doubt that you were adequately motivated and sensitised by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on your participation in the forthcoming 2018 General Election.

    Read Also: Ebonyi APC dares Umahi, vows to use stadium for rally

    “Let me inform you that your participation in that all important assignment is a rare opportunity for you to contribute your quota towards enthroning a credible leadership, good governance and above all, engendering a peaceful and prosperous Nation”.

    “In the light of the above, I charge you to discharge the INEC assignment with utmost sense of responsibility and good conscience by not allowing yourselves to be manipulated by desperate and unscrupulous politicians who will be willing to buy your conscience at all cost”.

    “Do not in any way give in to their antics, desperation and lure of cash or kind especially when you have to consider that posterity will judge you for the role you will play either positively or negatively during the general elections”, Umahi said.

    He said the N4000m will be used to renovate the road leading to the cam, renovate dilapidated  structures in the camp, provision ofdrainage and regrassing of the camp’s parade ground, connection of the co to national grid, solar street lightening of the camp and the road leading to the camp, etc.

    The Coordinator of the scheme in Ebonyi State, Ann Ngozika Ibe said that the corps members were posted to all the local government atras in the state except Ishielu local government area.

    “This decision is an aftermath of the 2008 Ezillk/Ezza-Ezillo communal crisis. We remain open-minded to post corps members to Ishielu LGA as soon as we receive the approval of the state government and clearance from relevant security agencies via the NYSC Natinal Directorate Headquarters, Abuja to do so”,she said. ENDS

  • Corps member donates museum to Imo zoo

    The zoo community in Imo State has been thrown into jubilation by the rare gesture of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member deployed to the state Miss Fatunbi Oluwatosin.

    Oluwatosin handed over a museum project worth N15 million to the state government as part of her Community Development Service (CDS).

    The gesture of the Corps member triggered deep emotions among the zoo workers who described it as uncommon and unprecedented.

    Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House Mr Kingsley Uju said the historic museum will not only serve as tourism centre, but also research centre for the next generation.

    He described the Corps member as a role model who should be emulated by all Nigerian youths.

    Uju commended the zeal and inspiration of conceiving the idea to “begin such a huge project considering the little allowance being paid to her as a Corps member”.

    “This is the kind of youths we are looking for in this state,” he said. “She is creative and hardworking and Imo State government will like her to remain in this state so that we can benefit from her full potential”.

    He continued: “Oluwatosin has justified her service year in Imo and has written her name in the good history of the state, this government will not fail to reward her”.

    Mrs. Gift Candida who represented the NYSC state Coordinator said the project was among the biggest any corps member has ever embarked upon in Imo.

    “I wonder what Oluwatosin was thinking when she embarked on this project, I do not know if she knew she has only one year to complete the project.

    “It is amazing that a Corps member could begin and complete a project of this magnitude,” she said.

    In her remarks, Oluwatosin, said she decided to embark on the project so that she would be known for something in Imo.

    She said, “When I was posted to Imo State Zoo, I went round the premises and discovered that the existing museum was not of standard, I decided to start the project just to upgrade the zoo.

    “I was able to complete this project through goodwill of some government officials like the Commissioner for Environment who donated the first N 1million and the Deputy Chief of Staff Mr Kingsley Uju who saw to the completion of the project.

    She also commended the Zoo Manager, Mr. Francis Abioye who she said stood by her during challenges and also introduced her to government officials.

    The zoo manager, Abioye, said the museum project was a top priority following a need to expand the existing museum before the corps member indicated interest.

    He said the historic museum will be used for tourism and research center for students.

  • NYSC inaugurates skills acquisition centre

    The National Youth  Service Corps (NYSC) in Bayelsa has inaugurated  a centre for its Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the centre is located at Okaka in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

    Inaugurating the centre  on Saturday, Mrs Loto Bolade, the NYSC  Coordinator in the state, described skills acquisition as an  important tool for  economic growth.

    Bolade pointed out that promoting skills acquisition was one  of the objectives of the NYSC as enshrined in the  Act  mandating the scheme to “ enable Nigerian youths acquire the spirit of self-reliance.’’

    She expressed happiness that  corps members had  continued to benefit from the SAED programme with training to acquire  skills in no fewer than 14 vocations.

    “This NYSC Bayelsa SAED Centre is to provide a platform where corps members with various skills can assemble to train other youths.

    “ The centre can also generate funds from its operations.

    “I charge the Assistant Director/Head of SAED to mobilise serving corps members to make good use of the centre for the overall advantage of  service corps and corps members,’’ she said.

    Mrs Ogechi Mba, an Assistant Director and Head of SAED in Bayelsa, gave an assurance  that the centre would be put to maximum use.

    Mba explained that the centre would commence with fashion designing, shoe making and event management units while others would be gradually introduced to cover the 14 skills selected.

  • Double accidents kill two corps members in Bayelsa

    …Two others in critical condition

     

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Bayelsa State, has been thrown into mourning following the death of two of its serving members in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    The corps members numbering four were reportedly involved in double accidents while returning from the state office of NYSC in Yenagoa on Monday.

    The victims identified as Adejina Victor, Omofopa Godwin, Obieze Chukwuemeka and Alaromi Olumide left Koluama 2, the place of their primary assignments in Southern Ijaw for Yenagoa to undertake their clearance at the NYSC office.

    It was gathered that after concluding their clearance, the corps members boarded a commercial tricycle, popularly known as Keke, to a waterside where they would board a boat to Koluama.

    Read Also:Train tanker drivers to avoid accidents, FRSC charges NUPENG/PTD

    But a tipper, whose driver was said to have lost its control, hit the tricycle conveying the corps members on the Swali Bridge.

    Sympathizers, who rushed to scene, were said to have transferred the critically injured corps members to another tricycle, which hurried them to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Yenagoa for treatment.

    It was gathered that the tricycle, which was racing to the hospital to save the lives of the corps members, was involved in another accident.

    Two of the corps members were said to have died on the spot at the scene of the second accident while two others were in life-threatening conditions.

    Among the two dead victims, who hailed from Benue and Ondo, one of them was supposed to complete his service on July 5th.

    A tricycle driver, Bayaninu Ali, who was injured in the second accident said: “I was driving my Keke when another Keke that was rushing the injured people to the hospital hit me. My fellow driver was in a hurry. He didn’t look and that was why the accident occurred”.

    Narrating the incident, the Vicar of St. John Anglican Church, Koluama 2, Rev. Emmanuel Chikwendu, described the incident as unfortunate.

    He said: “We came together to Koluama. This morning we arrived at Yenagoa at about 10am. They went for their clearance. They finished it and were on their way back when a tipper hit them on Swali Bridge”.

    Speaking on the incident, the state Coordinator, NYSC, Loto Omolayo, said the corps was saddened by the tragedy.

    Omolayo in a statement said: “Four corps Members serving in Bayelsa were involved in an accident at Swali Bridge in Yenagoa and were immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre

    “The Tricycle they boarded was hit by a tipper and unfortunately, two of the Corps Members died as a result of injuries sustained during the accident, while two are being treated by a team of competent consultants at the FMC.

    “The NYSC Family is saddened by this sudden loss. We have also informed and commiserated with the families on this unfortunate incident. We pray for the repose of the souls of the dead and quick recovery of the injured corps Members”.

  • Armed robbers rape corps member in Bayelsa

    An unidentified female member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has been raped by a gang of armed robbers in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    It was gathered that the hoodlums, who were engaged in house-to-house robbery at Yenizue Gene, a suburb of Yenagoa, attacked the corps member’s apartment located in the area on Sunday morning.

    The armed robbers numbering about three stormed the area at about 3am and fired several gunshots into the air to scare away a vigilance group, whose members were only carrying sticks and cutlasses.

    They were said to have robbed the victim of his mobile phones, cash and other valuables and later raped her.

    A resident, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said they took turns on the victim despite her pleas for mercy.

    “She has, however, been taken to the hospital for treatment”, the source said.

    Read Also:Court sentences 35-year-old to two years jail term for rape

    Sources said the police were alerted but that they could only do little following the blackout in Yenagoa.

    The Port-Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) has since November last year thrown the entire state including Yenagoa into darkness.

    The development has led to upsurge in criminal activities especially cult-related killings and armed robberies.

    A local vigilance member, Tonye, said the security men, who arrived the robbery scene, were afraid they could run into an ambush laid by the hoodlums.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident and said three armed robbers were involved in the crime.

    He said the traumatised corps member reported the matter to the police station including the way the hoodlums took turns on her.

    Butswat noted that the victim also made useful statement on the identities of the armed robbers adding that the police immediately launched a manhunt on them.

  • Ekiti 2018: 15,000 corps members to participate in election

    A total number of 15,000 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members are to officiate at the July 14 Ekiti State governorship election.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) National Commissioner, Prince Adedeji Soyebi, disclosed this on Monday while featuring on Ekiti State Television (EKTV) programme, Daybreak Nigeria, monitored by our reporter.

    Soyebi explained that the deployment of the corps members was one of the measures to ensure fairness to all parties and the credibility of the exercise.

    He also stressed that the electoral agency was collaborating with security agencies to ensure safety of officials, voters and electoral materials to be used for the poll.

    The INEC chief assured political parties and voters that the electoral umpire would be fair to all parties and would deliver an election in line with global electoral practices.

    Read Also:Ekiti 2018: Fayose, FUOYE VC trade words over alleged ‘rigging’ plot

    He urged political parties taking part in the poll to submit the list of their agents in line with the time allowed by law.

    Any party that fails to submit the names of its agents on time, according to him, would lose the privilege of being represented at the poll.

    Speaking on possibility of electronic voting in Nigeria, Soyebi said: “We are not definitely going to have it 2019 but we will get there very soon.”

    Responding to a question, Soyebi said it was possible to conduct all elections in a single day rather than having a staggered process for general elections.

    He said: “It is doable but we need to increase our level of voter education and awareness. We can have different colours of ballot papers for each of the election.

    “It will save the country of lots of expenses, time, money and manpower. It is the law that determines the sequence of elections and not INEC.”

  • Ayade to upgrade NYSC camp facilities in Cross River

    Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade, has promised to work with the National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) to upgrade facilities at the permanent camp in Obubra local government area.

    Ayade, who made the promise at the closing ceremony of the orientation course for 2018 Batch A corps members in Obubra, said there was need to upgrade basic facilities to accommodate corps members for the benefit of the people.

    He said through the efforts of the NYSC and the National Orientation Agency the Corps members were educated on the culture, tradition and taboos of the state for the purpose of effective and productive interaction, and also to give them the opportunity to serve as custodians of the culture.

    Ayade urged the Corps members to blend in with the enterprising people of the state in order to acquire the spirit and talents needed to build individual and collective capabilities.

    Read Also: NYSC DG to corps members: disclose your health status

    The governor said the state places premium on the security and well being of corps members through coordinated efforts with various security outfits.

    State Coordinator of the NYSC, Lady Eniola Ambekemo, said 2126 corps members comprising 1075 males and 1051 females were ready to report at their various places of assignment.

    She said the Corps members adequately cooperated with the camp management throughout their stay and expressed gratitude to all who made the exercise a success.

     

  • Disclose health status, NYSC DG urges corps members

    The Director General, National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ), Brigadier General Suleiman Kazaure, has urged corps members to disclose their health status so they could be well taken care of.

    He spoke while responding to questions at the closing of the orientation course for 2018 Batch A corps members at the NYSC Iyana Ipaja camp, Lagos Wednesday.

    Kazaure assured the corps members that disclosure of any health challenge would not lead to their expulsion from camp.

    “When you disclose your health status; when you are sick, it is not that you will be expelled from camp but for you to be moved closer to your doctors.  Please help us appeal to corps members to always disclose their health status,” he said.

    Responding to questions on quality of food served corps members on camp, the DG praised state coordinators for making the most of the N650 daily allowance they are given to feed each corps member.

    “I think the state coordinators are trying.  How much are they paid? As at last year, it was N500 per day but now they have increased it to N650 per day – maybe divided into N200, N200 and N250 per meal.  What kind of food will you cook with N200? I think the state coordinators have been trying,” he said.

    In his speech, the Lagos State NYSC Coordinator, Prince Mohammed Momoh, praised the corsp members for their discipline while in camp.

    He however appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to expedite action on the construction of a new camp on the land he allocated to the NYSC in Agbowa, Ikorodu, saying the Iyana Ipaja camp was too congested for the 2,794 corps members it hosted.

    Read Also: NYSC DG warns corps members against traveling, night parties

    “We are indeed very grateful for the allocation of land at Agbowa for the construction of a befitting orientation camp and it is our fervent hope that the construction of the camp be urgently looked into as the present facility is grossly inadequate considering the number of corps members deployed to the Centre of Excellence,” he said.

    Attesting to the inadequacy of the camp, Jennifer Obi, who won the most outstanding corps member award, said the overcrowding of the camp was one of the few issues she had during the three-week programme.

    “I enjoyed the camp.  It gave me an opportunity to learn a lot about things outside the classroom.  The camp officials were like our parents.  We were able to network, tap into our talents.  But the feeding wasn’t too good; the stew was watery.  Also the accommodation was not good.  We were 32 in a room and ventilation was an issue,” the graduate of Geography from the Obafemi Awolowo University said.

    In his speech, Governor Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Oluseye Oladejo, urged employers of labour to accept corps members posted to their organisations.

  • Obaseki promises to complete NYSC Orientation Camp

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has promised to complete the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permanent orientation camp at Okada within the stipulated time.

    Obaseki said he has deployed all machineries to the construction site to ensure that the next batch of corps members hold their orientation at the permanent site.

    Obaseki admonished corps members to embrace the Federal Government’s programme tagged “Change begin with me” in order to restore the nation’s dignity, pride and values.

    Represented by his deputy, Hon Philip Shaibu, Governor Obaseki spoke at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Batch ‘A’ corps members held at the NYSC Camp, Okada in Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state.

    Obaskei urged the corps members to eschew Internet fraud, armed robbery, thuggery, kidnapping, drug addiction, cultism, violence and prostitution.

    He identified corruption as one of the challenges facing the country adding that the only way out is for the corps members to take advantage and key into the “Change begin with me” initiative of the Federal  Government.

    According to him, “I charge you as future leaders to embrace the federal government programme ‘Change begins with me’ initiative which is aimed at restoring our national values and upholding all that is right.

    “The good people of Edo State are very friendly, receptive and accommodating. They are enlightened, sociable and above all hospitable.”

    The NYSC state coordinator, Mr. Abdullahi Baba Yusuf, disclosed that a total of  2,137 corps members have been equipped through orientation exercise for the challenges ahead of the service year.

    He said all through the orientation exercise, they have exhibited a very high level of discipline and decorum which culminated in the hitch free and very successful period they have stayed in the camp.

    Abdullahi said over 75 percent of the corps members have been posted to various educational institutions in the state to impart knowledge in our young ones in compliance with the posting policy of NYSC while the rest consisting of doctors and lawyers were posted to Primary Health Facilities and the Ministry of Justice respectively for their Primary Assignment.