Focus on nation-building, Obaseki tasks NYSC members in Edo

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The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, on Friday, enjoined Corps members posted to the state to focus on building and developing the nation.

The governor also noted that the essence of military drills in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme is aimed at preparing the body and mind of corps members for effective and productive participation in national development.

Obaseki, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the state’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Peter Osagie, stated this in his welcome address at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2023 Batch B, Stream 1 corps members deployed to Edo State.

He said explained that the primary objective of the NYSC scheme, which according to him is to foster national integration and development of the Nigerian youths, has achieved its lofty ideals.

“As you begin your national service to your fatherland, you have a unique opportunity towards making indelible contributions to sustainable development, fostering workable solutions to the felt needs of your host communities.

“I urge you to make the best use of this opportunity to serve with commitment, wherever you will be posted.

“It is no longer news that white-collar jobs are not readily available and I urge you to avail yourselves of the opportunities provided by the NYSC’s management, through its Skills’ Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, aimed at empowering youth corps members to be self-reliant.”

He, however, encouraged the corps members to key into the economic diversification programme of his administration’s MEGA agenda

Earlier, the Edo State NYSC coordinator, Pastor Foluke Oladeinde, made a shocking revelation that she personally paid for the apartment she is staying in Benin City, which she opined is contrary to what is obtainable in other states in the country.

She called for the provision of suitable accommodation for the Edo coordinator of NYSC in Benin and urged the state government to address the challenges of inadequate hostel accommodation for male and female corps members at the orientation camp in Edo.

She said: “At the close of registration by midnight of July 13, 2023, a total of 1,136, comprising 607 males, and 529 females were duly registered.

“A successful orientation course is centred on the realisation of the objectives and aspirations of the NYSC scheme.

“It is most gratifying to place on record that this permanent orientation camp, which has been a long-aged dream of the NYSC family, was brought into fruition by Governor Obaseki-led administration.

“I am indeed confident that upon its completion, the NYSC Edo permanent orientation camp will become the new standard for all orientation camps nationwide.

“The needs of NYSC in Edo State, to ensure smooth implementation of our programmes, include the provision of perimeter fencing of the orientation camp, to prevent further encroachment by individuals.”

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