The governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has charged out going corps members to create new identity for themselves in the larger society.
Akeredolu made the charge on Thursday during the Passing out Parade for the 2021 Batch ‘A’ (Stream 1) corps members who have completed the mandatory one year service to the nation.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Otunba Bamidele Ologun, said that the government and the good people of the Ondo State would ever remain grateful to them for all the human developmental projects they executed through the Community Development Service.
“The legacy you are leaving behind will continue to remain fresh in the memories of these communities for a very long time to come and I want to assure those of you who will remain behind that this government will create an enabling environment for you to succeed.”
He said that the present economic situation in the country made paid employment to be very scarce and implored them to leverage on the skills and vocations learnt during the service year to be self-reliant.
“I charge you to use the skills acquired during the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme to be self-employed and become entrepreneurs that will assist to reduce unemployment in our society.”
The governor made an appeal to the outgoing corps members to make their personal security a topmost priority.
Akeredolu also advised them to volunteer information that would assist the security agencies tackle the problems of insecurity in the country.
Earlier in her farewell address, the state coordinator, Mrs. Victoria Nnenna Ani, said that the corps members should brace up to face and tackle the challenges ahead.
According to her, “life will put many red lights in front of you but you need to press harder and see those red lights as stepping stones rather than stumbling blocks. You should know that being rude or arrogant will take you nowhere but good manners will open doors which education or qualifications may not open.”
The state coordinator appealed to outgoing corps members, who are ambassadors of the scheme, to support the NYSC Trust Fund which management team is pushing for its establishment through an Act instrument of National Assembly.
The NYSC Ondo State boss said that the Trust Fund slated for public hearing next week Thursday at the National Assembly, would address the infrastructural deficit at the orientation camps, ensure adequate provision of other operational logistics, as well as address the problem of graduate unemployment in the country.
She used the opportunity to appeal to all critical stakeholders of the Scheme; Civil Society Organisations, students’ bodies, academic community, media practitioners, Non-Governmental Organisations, traditional institutions, religious bodies and well-meaning Nigerians to send memoranda to the House Committee on Youth and Sports, and make physical appearance at the public hearing to support for the establishment of the Trust Fund.
Mrs. Ani announced that a corps member, Ogah Destiny Ndifon, with code number OD/21A/0132 who distinguished himself has been rewarded with the State Honours Award.
Twenty five other received the State Coordinator’s Commendation Certificates out of the 813 that qualified for the Certificate of National Service.
However, nine corps members will have their services extended for various misdemeanours while nine others absconded from service.
