BY AKINWALE ABOLUWADE, IBADAN
Brig.Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim, Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, has urged corps members to strive towards ensuring that Nigeria remains united.
Shuaibu made the call in an address delivered on his behalf by the State Coordinator of NYSC in Oyo, Grace Ogbuogebe, at the closing ceremony of the 2021 Batch ‘B’ Stream Two Orientation Course.
The DG commended the corps members for demonstrating patriotism and discipline for the success of the orientation exercise.
He urged them to accept their respective posting in good faith and perform their duties diligently with high sense of commitment.
“The next phase of the service year is of great significance as the entire nation looks up to you for your expected roles in advancing the unity and development of our fatherland. I, therefore, enjoin you to sustain the spirit of patriotism, hard work and resilience which you have imbibed during the orientation course,” he said.
He also stressed the need for them to respect the culture of their host communities, emphasising that they should endeavour to add value to their various communities through personal and group community development service projects.
The DG equally advised corps members to pay attention to the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme being antidote to high rate of unemployment among youths.
According to him, the SAED is targeted towards empowering the youths to becoming self reliant, job creators rather than job seekers.
He said, “The NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme is aimed at equipping you for self-employment and wealth creation. I am delighted at the enthusiasm you demonstrated during the vocational and entrepreneurial training conducted in the camp. I encourage you to build on the skills acquired by availing yourselves of opportunities for post-camp training.”
He warned them against embarking upon unapproved journeys and night trips, adding that it was mandatory for all corps members in transit to always cut short their trips from six o’clock in the evening and pass the night at military barracks and other locations officially designated as safe.
“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. Let me stress, however, that you must be security conscious at all times,” he stated.
Stressing the importance of adherence to the COVID-19 safety protocols in their places of primary assignment, the DG implored them to also sensitize members of their host communities to keep safe and get vaccinated.
He warned the corps members to shun drug abuse and trafficking, cybercrime and other vices, stating that whoever was found engaging in such would be handed over to security agents for prosecution.
