The Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has admonished members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, to be honest and straightforward in their dealings with their host communities.
The governor gave the admonition on Friday at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State, during the Official opening and swearing-in ceremony for the 2019 Batch ‘A’ corps members deployed to Ondo State.
Akeredolu said, “It is important to let you know that our people in this clime love people who are honest and straightforward. The moment you deviate from this virtue, it would be difficult to enjoy their support anymore.”
The governor charged the newly inducted corps members to discard whatever myths and misconceptions they might have been fed with about the people of South-West or Ondo State in particular.
“I am privileged by my status to inform you that Yoruba people are peace-loving, industrious, accommodating and above all God-fearing. It is equally important to let you know that our people cherish respect a lot and they can go to any length to integrate you into the mainstream of their industrial and business activities.”
Akeredolu who was represented by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Saka Yusuf Ogunleye, wanted the corps members to justify their 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.”
He said that the welfare and security of the members of the service corps would be adequately taken care of.
“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. Our government will continue to improve on developmental projects and infrastructures that will encourage those who observe their mandatory service to want to stay back and live in the state at the end of the service year,” he promised.
In her introductory speech, the State Coordinator, Mrs. Grace Akpabio, informed the corps members that orientation course had been packaged to among other things, introduce them to the objectives and programmes of the NYSC Scheme, prepare them for the challenges of the service year and post-service life as well as acquaint them with the new socio-cultural environment as corps members.
The State Coordinator enjoined the new NYSC family members to cooperate with camp officials and obey all the rules and regulations governing their stay in camp and “not to hesitate to approach any of the officers in case you need any assistance or clarification especially with regards to the verification/registration.”
According to the NYSC boss, as at 12 midnight of Thursday, the official cut-off time for registration, a total number of 2054 made up of 1119 males and 935 females had registered for the service in Ondo State.
Mrs. Akpabio used the opportunity to appreciate the governor and the people of Ondo State for the unwavering support to the scheme.
She used the platform of the event to call on well meaning Nigerians to help develop the orientation camp.
“I wish to use this opportunity to encourage the local governments, corporate citizens, 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.”
The representative of the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Idowu Kolawole administered the Oath of Allegiance on the prospective corps members in a colourful ceremony attended by the dignitaries in the society.
