The Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has charged newly inducted corps members to serve the nation selflessly during the service year.
The governor made the charge during the swearing in ceremony for the 2019 Batch ‘C’ (Stream 1) corps members deployed to Ondo State.
Akeredolu said majority of the corps members would have preferred to serve in some other states for reasons best known to them, but their deployment to Ondo State presupposed that God had prepared them for the state.
“Providence has brought you here and it behoves on you to justify your deployment and do your utmost best to enhance the development of the state through your solicited sacrifice individually and collectively in the next 12 calendar months.
“As a responsible government, I want to say, without mincing words that your welfare and security would be adequately taken care of during the service year,” he said.
Akeredolu promised that his administration would continue to improve on developmental projects and infrastructures that would encourage those who observed their mandatory service to want to stay and live in the state at the end of the service year.
He appreciated all the stakeholders of the NYSC for their numerous support which he said over the years sustained the scheme to objectively deliver on its mandate.
“Let us continue with this positivism so that these young Nigerians will have a good tale to tell the whole world during and after the service year.”
Akeredolu who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Barrister Dotun Owanikin, while declaring the course open admonished the compatriots in the national service to take the contents of the orientation course seriously.
The State Coordinator, Mrs. Grace Akpabio, in her introductory remarks announced that since the commencement of the registration, the prospective corps members had shown remarkable interest in all the camp activities and were relating well with all the officials and entire camp community.
Mrs. Akpabio said that orientation course had been packaged among other things, to introduce the participants to the objectives and programmes of the NYSC scheme, prepare them for the challenges of service year and post-service life as well as acquaint them with the new environment as corps members.
The NYSC boss intimated the new inductees that they would be introduced to series of extra-curricula camp activities that were exciting, rewarding and memorable.
That, according to her, included lecture on Tradition and Culture of the Yoruba, Leadership Lectures, Entrepreneurial Training, Parade Drills, Man ‘O’ War Training, Social and Cultural activities, Sports, Inter-Platoon Skills Competition among others.
“Let me admonish you to participate actively in all these activities and comport yourselves as mature youths. Endeavour to cooperate with camp officials and obey all rules and regulations governing your stay in camp and do not hesitate to approach any of my officers in case you need any assistance or clarification especially with regards to the verification/registration.”
The state coordinator however made special appeal to prospective corps members with life threatening ailments to report to Camp Clinic for proper monitoring and asserted that machinery had been put in place to ensure that they enjoyed first class medical treatment on camp.
She informed the gathering that the secretariat was making steady progress on the on-going construction of the Camp Clinic, Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, SAED, Centre and Orientation Broadcasting Service (OBS) Studio extension projects and sought the financial assistance of all and sundry.
“While soliciting your individual and collective contributions towards these projects, I want to use this opportunity to encourage the local governments, corporate citizens and well meaning Nigerians and philanthropists as well as other stakeholders too numerous to mention to make their presence felt in the camp by having a project which we promise to name after such entity.”
During the ceremony, Oath of Allegiance was administered on 2050 prospective corps members by the Chief Judge of Ondo State who was represented by Justice Ademola Enikuomeyin.
