The Oyo state government has expressed readiness to provide adequate welfare and safety to Corps members posted to the state for their one-year mandatory service.
Governor Seyi Makinde stated this during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Batch C stream 2 Corps members at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Iseyin.
Makinde, represented by the Commissioner of Youth and Sports, Wasilat Adegoke, said that the state government is working on ensuring a conducive environment for corps members posted to the state.
He said, “I want to assure you that the government will not relent in its efforts at addressing your welfare needs and ensuring your safety wherever you are posted.”
Makinde, therefore, urged the Corps members to seek development of their host communities by “identifying viable projects that will positively impact the lives of our people.
“I am aware that several motivational lectures were organised for you and that the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme was on the front burner. All these are geared towards preparing you for post-service self-employment.
“There are equally hundreds of areas where you can apply combinations of energy, education, skills, and zeal to make a huge success story in the not too distant future. I enjoin you to ponder seriously on this in the remaining eleven months of your service. It is my expectation that at the end of your service year, you will tend towards job creation rather than job seeking.”
Additionally, Makinde enjoined the Corps members to join in the nation-building initiative of the government and strive to make the scheme’s ‘Service and Humility’ motto their watchword.
The governor said, “May I equally remind you that as patriots in service, we must all join hands to build a stronger, more united, peaceful, and democratic nation? Therefore, it is imperative that you do not isolate yourself from the overall objectives of the founding fathers of the NYSC Scheme. Let the motto of NYSC, which is “service and humility,” be your guiding principle.”
Also, the Oyo State National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) coordinator, Odoba Abel Oche, lauded the efforts of the Oyo State government in pushing the core ideals of the scheme.
He said, “I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the state government under the administration of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, for his constant support of the scheme. We remain grateful, Sir. I thank the Hon. Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Miss Wasilat Adegoke, for her encouragement.”
He reinforced the importance of Corps members’ welfare and appealed to employers to provide an enabling environment for them to thrive.
“The welfare of Corps members is of the utmost priority to us. We are therefore appealing that employers provide them with the basic needs such as accommodation and transportation or allowance in lieu. I equally want us to see them as our own children and treat them as such.”
Furthermore, he implored the Corps members to be committed to nation-building and self-development, saying, “It is important for you to strive and be committed to your duties in return for a good welfare package, remain law-abiding, and accept challenges that would give you an edge in life.
“I implore you to add value to the certificate you have obtained by embarking on acquiring skills for self-development.”
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