Corps members should take a step that will lead them to financial prosperity and economic independence, retired Director of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Alhaji Wahab Obomeile, has stated.
Obomeile stated this when he addressed the 2019 Batch ‘B’ (Stream 11) corps members deployed to Ondo State at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko.
The one time Director, Community Development Service at the Gowon House, Headquarters of the scheme said that corps members should not fold their arms and expect manna to fall into their laps in form of economic independence.
Rather, he said, they should strive to take mitigated risks that would advance their cause in life.
“My children in the service, the resources which will make you an outstanding entrepreneurs and captains of industries are already deposited in you and you need to take a very bold step of faith to make it happen.
“I will recommend that you look for and read a book with the title ‘Rich Dad and Poor Dad’. The difference between the two is the step one takes and the complacency of the other”.
Obomeile who was a celebrated journalist at the Daily Times of old said the only way for Nigerian youths to break away from the shackles of poverty and achieve economic independence was to embrace with seriousness the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, SAED, programme established by NYSC seven years ago.
“Gentlemen corps members, truth most be told, if you want to break away from the pervading poverty in the land, you do not need a prophet or soothsayer to tell you that SAED programme of NYSC is the only way to financial prosperity which has been packaged to earn you respect of your peers and contemporaries in the outside world.
“The SAED programme has functional support from established financial institutions such as Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bank of Industry (BOI), Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and some commercial banks to provide soft loans to corps members. With all these arrangements, sky is your starting point.
“Let me tell you a secret, established entrepreneurs and captains of industries such as Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, Femi Otedola and their likes still approach banks to secure loans to expand their lines of businesses. So go for it and with hard work, perseverance and absolute faith in God Almighty, you will be smiling to the banks”.
Obomeile who was once the coordinator in the Ondo State thanked the present State Coordinator, Mrs. Grace Akpabio, for the honour done the past administrators in the state by naming hostels after them.
In her opening remarks, Akpabio enjoined the corps members to drink from the wealth of experience of the astute administrator by listening attentively with undivided attention.
She described the retired director as a goal getter who used his experience in both public and private service to advance the cause of the scheme when he was in active service.
Akpabio, on behalf of the management team and the entire corps members serving in the state, wished Obomeile more useful services to the nation especially the youths who are the ones that will take baton of leadership of the country.
