The council boss made this disclosure while playing host to the NYSC Ondo State Coordinator, Mrs. Victoria Nnenna Ani, who was in his office on a courtesy visit.

Adekunle noted that the service oriented objectives of the NYSC had for decades sustained national unity and development agenda of government.

He therefore observed that as a stakeholder of the scheme, the council would strive within its limited resources to make the orientation camp attractive to the teeming graduate youths deployed to the state for national service.

According to him, “the dwindling revenue notwithstanding, the local government council will continue to support the lofty programmes of the scheme,” Adekunle stressed.

Speaking on the constitution of NYSC local government committee, Adekunle promised to carefully study the relevant provisions of the NYSC Act in relation to the responsibilities of the local government council and act accordingly.

The council boss also disclosed that already his administration was making frantic efforts towards extending its advocacy to federal lawmakers, prominent indigenes as well  as philanthropists in the area to support the noble cause of  transforming the NYSC Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko, into a model to be reckoned with in the country.

“We cannot deny the fact that the presence of NYSC camp in our local government is a blessing, considering the economic benefits and the positive multiplier effects in the area of education, health, agriculture and other forms of empowerment for our people. We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that we all fulfil our corporate social responsibility to the NYSC,” he further stated.

Earlier in her address during the visit, the NYSC Ondo State Coordinator, Mrs. Victoria Nnenna Ani, said that she considered it appropriate to see the chairman of the host local government area where the orientation camp is located to officially intimate him of the development in the scheme regarding her posting as the new NYSC Ondo state coordinator.

She further informed her host that it was the responsibility of the local government council to ensure that corps members serving in the area were adequately catered for in terms of welfare provision and security.

“We are not oblivious of the challenges of all the tiers of government, but I want to use the opportunity of this courtesy visit to appeal to the Executive Chairman to consider the upward review of the allowance payable to Corps members serving in the local government area to reflect the present day economic realities. On our part, we shall continue to post Corps members to relevant areas of need in order to assist in the development agenda of the state.”

While appreciating the local government council for its age long support for the scheme in the state, the NYSC coordinator also declared that most of the structures in the camp were old and begging for attention.

She therefore made a special appeal to the council chairman to use his good office to attract people of goodwill to support the worthy cause of turning around the fortunes of one of the oldest camps in Nigeria.

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The minister made the remark on Monday at Mangu Permanent Orientation Camp of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, in Plateau State.

After reviewing the COVID19 control protocols with camp officials, the minister took the test at the station where arriving corps members were screened.

Dare called for the strengthening and experience expansion of the testing capacity at NYSC orientation camp while urging for people to strictly observe the preventive measures put in place to slow down the spread of the virus.

His words: “I want to make sure that the testing station is properly set up and working the way it should.  The same should go for all our orientation camps across the country.

“There is a second wave of COVID-19 being reported and testing is one of the measures to curtail the spread. Even if someone tests positive it will only help ensure the person gets timely medical attention.

“I urge corps members and Nigerians in general to take the test especially when showing symptoms or they have been in areas where there is a high incidence of the virus,” he charged.

Meanwhile, the minister has urged corps members across the country to sign up for the initiatives of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development that are aimed at investing in Nigerian youth.

While addressing the corps members at Mangu Orientation Camp, the minister stressed that programmes like the N75 billion Nigeria Youth Investment Fund, NYIF, had already rolled out alongside the training opportunities provided under the DEEL initiative.

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The State Coordinator, of the National Youth Service Corps, Mrs. Grace Akpabio offered the advice, on Thursday during the flag off of the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme for the 2020 Batch ‘B’ (Stream 1B) corps members deployed to Ondo State and those dislodged from Lagos State.

The state coordinator said that recent happenings in the country should encourage corps members to think of how best they could be independent both during and after the service year.

“My excellent, outstanding and wonderful corps members, I want you to be successful during the service year and beyond. This is the reason I am propelling you to pitch your tent with the programme established by the laudable scheme eight and half years ago to become self-reliant.

“I do not want a situation where you will be looking for limited paid employment when you can access the opportunities provided by the SAED programme in conjunction with financial institutions and empowerment agencies to becoming industrialists and captains of small and medium scale businesses.”

Akpabio said that the sad reality of the present times was that majority of youths who were struggling to make a living were looking up to the privileged few among their friends whose parents had secured their future.

“It makes me feel very uncomfortable whenever I see our vibrant and strong youths with intelligence to go with it trying to look up to the privileged few among their friends for survival.

“I want to encourage you to strive to be successful businessmen, like Mr. Tony Elumelu who today has made thousands of outstanding entrepreneurs across the continent of Africa,” she said.

The NYSC boss disclosed that the management of the scheme would continue to invest in empowerment programmes that would make the corps members stand out in the society.

Akpabio who was a foundation member of Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development department when it was established in March 2012 attested to the success stories as evidenced in the breakthrough recorded in all sub skill sectors, encouraged the corps members to join the progressive train of the programme.

In her welcome address, the Assistant Director/Head, SAED, Mrs. Itohan Ehimwenma, enjoined members of the service corps to take the in-camp training seriously because it would change their fortune for the better.

“My dear children, I want you to take advantage of structures put in place by NYSC to empower yourselves as what you will face outside is more challenging.

“The in-camp training is free of charge while the post camp training attracts huge discount as we have an arrangement with our trainers not to charge the corps members like other people in the society.”

According to Ehimwenma, learning or training that would ordinarily attract between N50,000 and N60,000 had been slashed to between N10,000 and N15,000, courtesy NYSC.

She thanked the facilitators and trainers for the provision of training materials and logistics to run the seven days intensive programme.

Highlight of the ceremony was the motivational lecture, after which testimonies of many serving and ex-corps members who are making waves with the skills and vocations acquired during the service year were shared.

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Attah gave the challenge to youths on Saturday when he paid unscheduled visit to the 2020 Batch ‘B’ (Stream 1A) corps members deployed to Ondo State.

Speaking at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko, the he said the education and exposure of members of the service corps should be an added advantage which should be deployed to make the country better.

“As an enlightened strata of this society, it behoves on you to bring ideas together and come up with workable solutions and this is the more reason why the federal government has invested a lot in you so that you can drive the developmental process the nation is clamouring for.

“The federal government, through the NYSC, established the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme in 2012 to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country and it is incontrovertible fact that we have broken so many barriers with the empowerment programmes we have given successive corps members.

“Some of your predecessors who embraced SAED and keyed in into its various sub sect, are today managers of small and medium scale businesses. They are equally employers of labour.

“I want you to take advantage of this intervention and say hay while the sun shines. Paid job is not easy to come by again and whatever skills you can learn during the service year will prepare you for the challenges ahead and make you independent,” he said.

Attah commended the untiring efforts of National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, team and the corps medical personnel for rising up to the challenge posed by Coronavirus pandemic.

“I am impressed with the professional way and manner the NCDC team and corps medical personnel have combated COVID-19 among the entire camp community. Information made available to me indicated that all prospective corps members, the camp officials and the camp marketers had undergone the compulsory COVID -19 test.”

The NYSC boss who is equally an astute football administrator charged the corps members to abide by the protocols of coronavirus pandemic as directed by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, noting that the novel and deadly virus was still very much in the society.

He warned that any corps member who embarked on frivolous journeys during the service year would be sanctioned in line with the provision of the NYSC bye law.

“Let me advise you and at the same time warn you not to embark on needless journeys during the service year. The roads are bad and we want to hand you over to your parents and loved ones at the end of the service year hale and hearty. Always apply in writing and obtain permission from the state coordinator before you travel out of your places of primary assignment,” he said.

He commended the state coordinator, Mrs. Grace Akpabio, for giving facelift to structures on the camp as well as improving on the services rendered to the corps members.

“Mrs. Akpabio is a great caring mother and a very hard-working woman who has transformed the orientation camp and her commitment has made Ondo camp one of the best in the country,” he concluded.

Briefing the Attah, the camp director, Mr. Babatunde Oyebade, said the management complied wholly with the directives of NCDC with the provision of well equipped Camp Clinic manned by the consultants from the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, and medical professionals from the Infection Prevention and Control Department of Ondo State Ministry of Health.

Oyebade informed the director that some 2020 Batch ‘A’ corps members that were sent out of camp at the height of COVID-19 in March this year had started joining those in camp to complete their orientation course.

Before leaving the camp, Attah rewarded members of the NCDC team and COVID -19 Vanguard with plaques and Certificate of Commendation for a job well done.

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The NCDC team leader at the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Ondo Camp, Mr. Philips Olusola, gave the warning during a sensitisation lecture to corps members currently undergoing orientation at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Ikare Akoko, Ondo State.

He warned that the disease remained a highly transmittable one.

According to him, COVID-19 is a pathogenic viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which emerged in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and spread to other parts of the world within a space of three months.

“Genomic analysis revealed that SARS-CoV-2 is phylogenetically related to severe acute respiratory syndrome-like (SARS-like) bat viruses, therefore bats could be the possible primary reservoir,” he asserted.

“The intermediate source of origin and transfer to human beings is not known, however, the rapid human to human transfer has been confirmed widely. There is no clinically approved antiviral drug or vaccine available to be used against COVID-19. Meanwhile, few broad-spectrum antiviral drugs have been evaluated against COVID -19 in clinical trials, resulted in clinical recovery,” he announced.

Olusola further explained the transmission and characteristics of human coronaviruses while emphasising the uncompromising use of face mask, ensuring hands were washed regularly under running water for at least twenty seconds as well as maintaining a social distance of at least two metres within and even outside the camp community.

The medical professional who demanded that certain unfounded stories and myth surrounding the killer disease should be dropped, appealed to corps members to take responsibility for their well being by keeping faith with the protocols propounded by both the Presidential Task Force on COVID -19 and NCDC.

He, however appealed to the corps members to dissociate themselves from conspiracy theories flooding the media space that Ondo State had one of the highest infection rates in the country.

He said the Zoomorphic disease, as at Thursday, stood at a confirmed cases of 65,839 while 61,573 had been discharged and a total of 1,163 mortality.

Olusola expressed great hopes in the world’s medical researches and remained optimistic that a sustainable vaccine and cure would soon be discovered.

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Alonge made the charge on Tuesday when he delivered a motivational lecture to the 2020 Batch ‘B’ (Stream 1A) corps members deployed to Ondo State and those dislodged from Lagos State.

Alonge who served as Director, Procurement, between 2012 and 2013 advised the members of the service corps to think outside their qualifications to create a world for themselves.

“My dear children in the national service, I want to let you know that the global economy is facing some challenges and it is only those who are creative and focused that will stand out and conquer the world.”

The retired Director who is now a community leader in Iyamoye in Ijumu Local Government of Kogi State advised the corps members not to engage in any untoward activity in a bid to achieve greatness.

“It is disheartening that many youths are no longer willing to go through the sacrifices and commitments required to excel but I want to admonish you that perseverance and patience are the key words to rule the world.

“Let me add that for you to succeed in life, you need to manage your anger as it has been scientifically proven that many great managers and leaders have met their waterloo for their inability to work on this great life destroying attitude.

“As youths, you have a great world ahead of you and you need to toe the path which will bring people closer to you in order to achieve whatever you may have set for yourselves as objectives. Be a good listener and never jump or be hasty in taking actions,” he said.

The former NYSC boss who served in various capacities said that God had deposited in every human a unique hidden talent which if properly harnessed could change their story from grass to grace.

Alonge who retired into private business and engages the services of between two to four corps members every service year said that discipline was a golden attribute and that corps members should make sure they imbibe it if they wanted to move far in life.

Earlier, the State Coordinator, Mrs. Grace Akpabio, charged the corps members to learn and imbibe virtues from the personal information the director was to share with them.

Akpabio appreciated Alonge for accepting to share his personal experiences with the corps members.

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Akeredolu made the declaration on Monday at the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare Akoko, Ondo State, during the official opening/swearing in ceremony for the 2020 Batch ‘B’ (Stream 1A) corps members deployed to Ondo State and their colleagues dislodged from Lagos State.

Akeredolu who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths and Sports Development, Dr. (Mrs.) Modupe Esofonie admonished the corps members to take all the four cardinal programmes of the NYSC seriously as that would justify the huge investment government put at their disposal.

The governor charged the members of the service corps to have a positive outlook on issues affecting the nation and continuously strive to contribute meaningfully at every sector they would be deployed to.

He said they should endeavour to create a lasting impression which would encourage the populace to crave for the sustenance of the scheme.

Akeredolu noted that the orientation course contents had been packaged to prepare the corps members physically, emotionally, mentally and psychologically to learn the rudiments of sacrifice and commitment which the national service stands for.

“You will meet progressive minds from different ethnic groups and religions. Your ability to accommodate their divergent views and live peacefully with them is an assurance that under the right atmosphere, the youths will take us to a safe haven.

“Your coming together should not be viewed or seen as a ploy to foster an ethnic, religious or cultural agenda of a particular zone or region. Rather, it should be appreciated as a deliberate attempt by those in authority to make us speak with one voice and see ourselves as one indivisible entity.”

He promised that his administration, being a responsible one would continue to support and create enabling environment for the scheme to succeed in the state.

“In the same vein, we shall by the grace of God and in line with our core mandate provide adequate security to members of the service corps even though absolute security resides with our Creator,” he said.

Governor Akeredolu said that as human beings who were not immune to diseases and sickness, they should report to nearest medical facility if their health status is threatened.

“We have put in place cut edge technology with the assistance of professionals in the medical field to contain whatever outbreaks we are contending with presently.

In her introductory remarks, the State Coordinator, Mrs. Grace Akpabio, appealed to the prospective corps members to observe all protocols of COVID -19 as postulated by the Presidential Task Force on COVID -19 and National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.

“For emphasis sake, you are expected at all times to wear your face mask during all programmes and activities, and ensure that you maintain both physical and social distancing,” she said.

Akpabio said that the orientation course was packaged among other things, to introduce them to the objectives and programmes of the NYSC scheme, prepare them for the challenges of service and post service life, as well as acquaint them with the new socio-cultural environment they would find themselves.

The Chief Judge of Ondo State who was represented by  Justice Oluwafeyisayo Kuteyi of Owo/Ifon Judicial Division administered Oath of Allegiance on 632 prospective corps members out of which 435 belonged to Ondo State and 197 dislodged from Lagos State.

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The state coordinator made the assertion on Saturday while giving overview of the NYSC in a lecture she delivered to 2020 Batch ‘B’ (Stream 1A) prospective corps members at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare Akoko, Ondo State.

Akpabio said that as Nigerians, they should believe in the country and cooperate with leaders to make it a better place for all to live.

“My prospective corps members, I want you to do away with the erroneous impression that this country has no meaningful solutions to offer the young and vibrant youths in their quest for better future. Right from the three weeks orientation course, we have packaged programmes and activities that will impact positively on your future.

“A situation whereby some of you are bringing documents which are not genuine to seek relocation or exeat from camp so that you can go back to your parents and loved ones at the expense of service to the fatherland is not good enough.

“Some of you may be wondering that some of your colleagues are leaving the camp while we refused to grant approvals to others that applied. We are releasing those with life threatening ailments, the nursing mothers and the pregnant ones as the rigours of camp activities may further endanger their lives.”

The NYSC boss traced the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps to the post civil war era when the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, saw the need to heal the wounds created by the needless war.

“General Yakubu Gowon came up with the three Rs known as Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconcilation, thus bringing NYSC into the mainstream of Nigeria developmental plan on 22nd May, 1973 and has been waxing stronger ever since.

She disclosed that the service year is an unbroken and continuous 12 calendar months and warned them that anyone found wanting in the course of the service year would be sanctioned in line with the NYSC bye law.

Akpabio outlined that the scheme had 12 functional departments and four autonomous units under the office of the Director General of NYSC.

“To further bring the administration to the grassroots, the scheme upon the approval from the Office of the Civil Service of the Federation created Area Offices in each of the geo political zone and these offices are headed by Directors.

“Before the creation of Area Offices, corps inspection was domiciled at the Corps Welfare and Inspectorate Department at the Headquarters, but with the expansion, Area Offices are now responsible for monitoring of corps members in the respective areas,” she said.

While wishing the prospective corps members a rewarding orientation course, Akpabio inaugurated COVID -19 Enforcement Vanguard and admonished them to protect themselves against the spread of the novel Coronavirus pandemic.

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The approval takes effect from November 10, 2020.

Recall that the camps were closed on March 8, 2020 to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, made the approval of the reopening date known on his Twitter handle on Thursday.

He said full COVID-19 protocols would be followed.

His words: “The Resumption of the NYSC Orientation Camp for prospective Youth Corpers has been approved and opens on November 10th 2020. Full COVID-19 Protocols will be enforced.”

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The decision was taken as a precautionary measure against the possible spread of coronavirus.

A similar action was taken on Tuesday when the Federal Government postponed the national sports festival scheduled to hold in Edo State.

The suspension of the orientation exercise was announced in a statement issued by the management of the scheme on Wednesday.

The statement reads: “Sequel to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic which led to the cancellation of the national sports festival, management of the National Youth Service Corps Scheme wishes to announce the suspension of the on-going orientation course for the 2020 Batch “A” stream 1 corps members.”

“Therefore, the corps members shall be posted to commence their primary assignments forthwith, while they shall be invited back to the orientation camps when the situation improves, just like it happened a few years ago when the nation was confronted by the Ebola virus threat.

“Management wishes to state that no corps member or camp official has contracted the virus.”

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