The governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has tasked corps members to brace up to address the challenges of national development.
The governor made the call while addressing the 2024 Batch ‘C’ (Stream II) corps members deployed to Ondo State and their counterparts dislodged from Lagos State.
Speaking at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko, Aiyedatiwa said that their roles as catalysts for the much needed national rebirth and re-construction should be geared towards reflecting on the evolution of the country, Nigeria.
He disclosed that members of the service corps faced a greater challenge to prove that the future of Nigeria and coming generations would be secured in their hands.
The governor admonished them to eschew all forms of negative tendencies and rededicate themselves with all strength and vigour to the task of bringing about positive changes.
The chief host of all corps members deployed and serving in the state disclosed that their welfare and security would be adequately taken care of during the service, and promised that government would continue to support the National Youth Service Corps at all times.
The governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mrs. Tolu Adeyemi, admonished them to co-operate with camp officials so as to guarantee a successful orientation course.
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Earlier in her welcome address, the NYSC Ondo State Coordinator, Mrs. Kuburat Omowumi Bakare, congratulated the graduate youths for successfully completing their various academic courses of study, which qualified them for mobilisation and subsequent deployment.
The state coordinator informed the corps members that the orientation course had been packaged to, among other things, introduce them to the objectives and programmes of the NYSC scheme.
Bakare hinted that the three weeks induction was meant to prepare them for the challenges of service year and post-service life, as well as acquaint them with their new socio-cultural environment as corps members.
The NYSC Ondo State boss disclosed that they would be exposed to series of extra-curricular activities that are exciting, rewarding and memorable.
According to her, the regimented environment will have lectures on Tradition and Culture of the Yorubas, Leadership Lectures, Entrepreneurial Training, Parade Drills, Man ‘O’ War Training, Social and Cultural activities, Sports, Inter-Platoon Skills Acquisition competition amongst others.
The NYSC Coordinator called on local governments, corporate citizens and well-meaning Nigerians and philanthropists as well as other stakeholders to come and invest in the infrastructural development of the permanent orientation camp.
She said the camp lacked adequate hostel accommodation to house corps members and course officials.
That, she said, had been hampering effective service delivery to the members of the service corps.
She announced that as at the time of swearing in ceremony, a total number of 1,226 made up of 544 males and 682 females had so far registered for service in Ondo State while the dislodged corps members from Lagos stood at 346, and that number represented 146 males and 200 females.
The Chief Judge of Ondo State, who was represented by Justice Bankole Akinwunmi administered the Oath of Allegiance on registered corps members, with a charge to them to always remember the motto and strive continuously to live up to the ideals of the National Youth Service Corps, during and after the service year.
He enjoined them to have a healthy attitude to work, and be prepared to serve honestly, faithfully wherever they are posted for national service.
