Be independent and earn the respect of the society without being a burden to your families, the Ondo State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Mrs. Grace Akpabio, has admonished corps members
She made the charge during in her farewell address to the 2018 Batch ‘C’ (Stream 11) corps members who were discharged from national service on Thursday.
Mrs. Akpabio who was represented by the Assistant Directors in all the local governments harped on the need to be independent saying that the outgoing corps members should use the training acquired during service to advance their cause for better today and guaranteed tomorrow.
“I want you to face tomorrow with zeal and determination to succeed in whatever capacity you may choose to make a decent living. Tap the several opportunities that abound in the country and become the next generation of entrepreneurs and successful business moguls,” she said.
The NYSC boss reminded the participants who enlisted in the mandatory programme last year that the service year had provided them with competitive comparative advantage to combine academic achievement with practical skills to excel in the ever aggressive business environment and make them independent.
According to her, “Your participation in Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) training and other empowerment programmes should be a launch pad for you to tell the world that investment on you has never been a fluke.”
She added: “As you step into the larger society, endeavour to be good ambassadors of not only your educational institutions, respective families but NYSC and the nation at large. Imbibe the art of hard work, honesty and let integrity you were exposed to during the service to the fatherland be your watchword.”
The coordinator said that she believed in their individual and collective abilities to transform Nigeria and restore her economic dignity.
“With your honest contribution of ideas, you will take our country to the higher level and give her a pride of place in the comity of nations. Pursue your dreams with zeal, diligence, goal-setting, and with determination and prayers, you will attain the goal you set for yourself,” she said.
She charged them to contribute meaningfully, their quota to the overall development of Nigeria and “not to complain about what you are not willing to work hard to change.”
In all, 1313 corps members received their Certificate of National Service out of which three got State Honours Award and 15 collected State Coordinator’s Commendation Certificates.
However, services of four recalcitrant corps members were extended for not measuring up to the required standard at their places of primary assignment and 14 who absconded the service were recommended for remobilisation subject to approval of the Directorate Headquarters, Abuja.
