The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim has urged the corps members to sustain the spirit of patriotism, hard work, and resilience that they imbibed during the orientation course.
The Director-General made the statement in the address read on his behalf by the Ondo State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Victoria Nnenna Ani during the closing ceremony of the orientation course for 2021 Batch ‘C’ (Stream 1) corps members deployed to Ondo State.
General Ibrahim an Associate Professor said that it is his ardent belief that the members of the service corps will strive to meet the expectations of Nigerians by contributing towards the progress and development of the fatherland.
He reminded the corps members of the Oath of Allegiance they took in which they pledged to accept their postings in good faith and enjoined them to undertake personal and group Community Development Service projects that will help to uplift the living standard of the people at their various places of primary assignment.
“My dear corps members, as you proceed to your locations of primary assignment, I urge you to be security conscious at all times and steer clear of acts that can put you in harm’s way such as staying out late, attendance of night parties, visitation to dangerous places and acceptance of car lifts from strangers”.
The NYSC boss gave the assurance that management remained committed to corps members’ security and general welfare.
“Accordingly, we are in constant liaison with security agencies and other stakeholders with the view of ensuring your safety as well as addressing other essential needs for a fulfilling service year”.
He charged them to be good ambassadors of NYSC as well as their families and institutions of graduation.
“Therefore, you must be wary of acts that can soil our image, especially vices such as drug abuse and trafficking, cybercrime and advanced fee fraud. Also, remember that your membership of the service corps does not confer immunity from the legal consequences of any wrongdoing.
“I, therefore, enjoin you to continue to be law-abiding while also serving as role models for the younger ones” he added.
The Director-General encouraged the corps participants to build on the skills acquired by availing themselves of opportunities for post-camp training as this will go a long way in empowering them for self-employment.
“On our part, we are liaising with financial institutions and other stakeholders with a view to providing start-up loans to enable you actualise your business dreams and I wish to assure you that management will continue to explore avenues for optimising the impact of the programme”.
Ibrahim frowned at unauthorised journeys and night trips which according to him will not only increase the risk of an accident but also make rescue difficult.
“You are therefore advised to always cut short your trips from six o’clock in the evening and pass the night at military barracks and other locations officially designated as safe, and always board vehicles only at approved motor parks so as to avoid falling prey to criminals”.
The occasion was used to remind the corps members of the Federal Government’s plan to make the presentation of evidence of COVID -19 vaccination a condition for gaining entry to government offices as from 1st December 2021.
“You are therefore expected to make yourselves available for the vaccination as the rule will apply to you in your places of primary assignment’ he added.
The one-star general, who was recently honoured with the Sun Personality of the Year award in the Public Sector category appealed to corps employers to accept the corps members posted to them and make necessary provisions for their welfare.
The 1479 corps members who reported in Ondo State for service three weeks ago from all the states of the federation and FCT were encouraged to use social media to promote national unity and integration.
During the event, the State Coordinator, Mrs. Victoria Nnenna Ani recognised the commitment and resilience of two camp officials and rewarded them with a Letter of Commendation. The recipients were the Camp Commandant, Major Stephen Ajakaiye who won in the Best non-NYSC Camp Official category while the Deputy Camp Director, Mr. Francis Oladele Adebayo received that of Best NYSC Camp official for 2021 Batch ‘C’ (Stream 1) orientation course respectively.
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