About One thousand, eight hundred and forty-nine youth corps members made up of 922 males and 927 females have been deployed to Abia state for the 2019 Batch “C” Stream 1 mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
At the commencement of the three weeks orientation camp for the corps members at the NYSC Camp, Umunna, Bende local government, Abia state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu called on the NYSC management to continue to uphold the responsibility of the scheme in order to realize its objective.
Dr. Ikpeazu who spoke at the swearing in ceremony of the members expressed pleasure that the scheme has been expanded both in scope and depth from orientation course to include skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development, mental arts training, professional orientation and other activities with a view to make them work together to achieve common goal.
Represented by his deputy, Sir. Ude Oko Chukwu, governor Ikpeazu further stated that the orientation course programme had been designed to inculcate a high level of discipline, patriotic ideals, self development and empowerment to expose them to the core values which the National Youth Service Corps is presently showcasing.
He assured that the present state government had taken measures to ensure that their lives and property are secured as well congratulated them for scaling the academic hurdles which qualified them to participate in the noble and grassroots oriented programme that have impacted positively on the lives of the rural people especially in Abia state.
Dr Ikpeazu expressed the hope that the torch of service and humility lit by their predecessors would shine brighter in their hands and urged them to adapt themselves to the camping situation as a learning process for higher accomplishment.
According to him,” you must shun those vices that have the tendency of shun any vices capable of truncating lives of youths like hard drugs, cult activities, kidnapping, armed robbery among other vices.
The governor further urged them to concern yourselves with those virtues that would mark them out as outstanding individuals in the camp and throughout the service year.
Dr. Ikpeazu reassure them that his government would continue to support the scheme and improve the present condition of the camp within the available resources of the state.
In his address. The Chairman NYSC state governing board and Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Chief Emeka Ikwuagwu said that the scheme was designed to instil discipline and inculcate national building valve with a the tradition of industry at work, patriotism and loyal service to nation in any situation they find themselves
Chief Ikwuagwu further stated that the NYSC in its objectives seek to develop in the Nigeria youth , the attitude of mind acquired through shared experience and suitable in order to enhance the accelerated growth of the national economy.
According to him,” the orientation course has been packaged to adequately equip corps members to attain the objective of the scheme as well avail themselves the opportunity to learn about education, history, geography and culture of the Abia state.
He commended the state governor, Dr Ikpeazu for his immeasurable support to the NYSC scheme in the state.
Chief Ikwuagwu who was later conducted round the facilities in the camp, observed that erosion menace has been the major challenges,promising that it will soon be a thing of the past.
Earlier in her address, the State NYSC Coordinator , Mrs Bona- Adibeli Fasakin reminded them that the founding father of the 46 year of scheme was conceived to foster unity of the country as well inculcate leadership abilities in the youth.
According to her, the scheme prepares corps members for the task of nation building among other objectives and further stated that the camp activities have been packaged for these young Nigerians to include para- military drills, lectures, Skills acquisition training, Sports ,Social activities towards equipping them for service year and beyond..
Contributing, the Bende local government chairman, Hon PC Onyegbu expressed hope that the crop of newly deployed Corp members Will contribute to the economic development of Abia state.
He promised that the state government will surely address the issue of some dilapidated structures in the camp.
