The governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, has urged corps members to demonstrate patriotic zeal towards national development and nation-building.
The governor made the statement at the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, orientation camp, Ikare-Akoko, in his address read at the official opening/swearing in ceremony, for the 2023 Batch ‘B’ (Stream II) corps members deployed to Ondo State.
Represented by Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Otunba Bamidele Ologun, the governor said that selfless service was the hallmark of leadership.
He congratulated them on behalf of the government and people of Ondo State for successfully completing their various academic programmes, a feat which qualified them to be mobilised into the prestigious noble scheme.
Akeredolu assured the corps members that their security and welfare would be adequately catered for during the service year.
He stated that his administration would continue to improve on developmental projects and infrastructure that would encourage those who observed their mandatory service 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 and assistance which he said had over the years been sustaining the scheme to objectively and effectively deliver on its core mandate.
Welcoming the new entrants into the Chairman, Ondo State NYSC Governing Board who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mrs. Foluke Tunde-Daramola, told the members of the service corps that Ondo blessed with tourist attractions that would make their stay memorable and historic.
In her introductory speech, the Ondo State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Victoria Nnenna Ani, informed the corps participants that the three weeks orientation course had been packaged to, among other things, introduce them to the objectives and programmes of the NYSC scheme as well as prepare them for the challenges of service year and post-service life.
According to the state coordinator, the orientation course was equally meant to acquaint them with their new socio-cultural environment and urged them to integrate properly into their host communities.
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Ani announced that they would be introduced to series of camp activities that were exciting, rewarding and memorable.
The activities, she said, included lectures on Tradition and Culture of the Yorubas, Leadership and Motivational lecture, Entrepreneurial Training, Parade Drills and Physical exercise, Man ‘O’ War Training, Social and Cultural activities, Sports and Inter-Platoon Skills Acquisition competition among others.
She admonished them to be of good behaviour throughout the service year and implored them to distinguish themselves right from the orientation course and work relentlessly towards becoming outstanding award winner at the end of the service year by providing the host communities and the society enduring legacies through qualitative projects that would impact their lives.
She acknowledged the contributions of the state government for the support it extended to the scheme at all times, and used the occasion to appeal for assistance from corporate organisations and well-meaning philanthropists in the society.
The oath of allegiance was administered on about 1700 prospective corps members by Chief Magistrate Sikiru Babalola who represented the Chief Judge of Ondo State.
