Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has encouraged members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the State to acquire skills that will enable them thrive in Abia’s entrepreneurial space and become active contributors to socioeconomic development in the nation.
The Governor said this will enable them combat hunger, mould them into independent individuals and employers of labour even after their service year.
Speaking while receiving a delegation of the NYSC South East Zonal Zonal Coordinator, Mrs. Ngozi Nwatarali and the New NYSC State Coordinator, Mr. Jingi Dennis, the Governor further tasked Corps Members to become active participants in the local economies of their host communities.
He said: “I do not see why those who come to Abia State for their service year should not become brilliant shoe and garment makers after one year.
“The opportunities abound and they can leverage this especially with the setting up of our automated factories for shoe manufacturing and all kinds of dress making.
“They can participate in the local economies of their host states and deploy their expertise and then learn that beyond what you have learnt in the four walls of a university, you can use your hands not only to create employment for yourself but also support the growth of the local economy you are in”.
The Governor while noting the importance of the NYSC towards national development said “the scheme needs to be supported and firmed in more ways than we are doing presently”.
According to Governor Ikpeazu part of the issues facing the present day Nigeria is “our inability to stand the sentiments and the emotions as represented in the various ethnic nationalities that make up this beautiful country.
“We need to go back to the core values and those things which were the propelling forces driving NYSC programmes, Chief among them in the midst of all of these is to see how we can unite through disposing ourselves to various cultures, different settings and different societies”.
Governor Ikpeazu who later presented a brand new Innoson Pick Up Vehicle to the State NYSC Office to aid their activities,assured the NYSC of his continuous support to them adding that he would give Abia NYSC Orientation Camp at Umunna, Bende LGA the face-lift it requires.
In her speech earlier, the South East Area Director of the NYSC, Mrs. Ngozi Nwatarali said the delegation came to present themselves to the Governor as well as thank him for his support to the scheme.
She assured the Governor that the existing synergy between the State Government and the scheme will be strengthened.
