Polycarp Sola-Abakaliki
A total of 848 new Corps members have been inducted for the 2022 Batch C stream 2 orientation course in Ebonyi State on Tuesday and charged with sustaining discipline throughout the exercise and beyond.
The Acting Director General of NYSC, Mrs. Christy Uba, gave the oath of allegiance to the fresh Corps members at the opening ceremony which was held at the NYSC permanent site, Old McGregor college in Afikpo North Local Government Area of the State.
Mrs. Uba, who was represented at the event by the State Coordinator, Mrs. Bamai Mercy, earlier congratulated the fresh Corps members on graduation from their various institutions and commended their willingness to avail themselves of national service.
She said the orientation course as the first cardinal program of the NYSC is aimed at introducing them to the objectives and programs of the Scheme.
“It is designed to prepare you for the tasks of the Service Year through training on Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, leadership coaching, paramilitary drills, and other physical activities, as well as sensitization on topical national issues.
“It is also an avenue that provides the opportunity for you to realize your potential and attain individual feats both during and after the service year. I, therefore, enjoin you to take advantage of this golden opportunity to participate in all the Camp activities”. she said.
The DG equally told the fresh Corps members to recognize that one of the objectives of the scheme is to promote national unity and integration, which explains their deployment away from their various States and ethnic backgrounds.
She noted that this would further broaden their understanding of the Country as well as enhance the culture of working together in an atmosphere of friendship, peace, harmony; “and a shared vision of a great and prosperous Nigeria”.
Mrs. Uba, who further urged them to sustain a high level of discipline and enthusiasm, commended their compliance with Camp rules and regulations and cautioned them on the need to avoid indulgence in social vices such as cultism and drug abuse amongst others.
The Corps members, 374 males, and 474 females were further charged by the DG to abstain from using social media for spreading fake news and deploy the same for the promotion of National Unity.
She encouraged them to avail themselves of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship for Development, (SAED) program of the NYSC to enable them to acquire the requisite knowledge for self-reliance and wealth creation.
“You are expected to choose from any of the skill areas, and make yourselves available for the training, which starts from the Orientation Camp. On our part, Management will continue to work with relevant stakeholders for the success of the program”. she added.
While commending the contributions of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) for providing safety kits for Camp activities, she maintained that Corps members must continue to observe safety measures against covid-19, such as physical distancing, washing of hands and the use of face masks during the exercise.
She appealed to various stakeholders to support the establishment of the NYSC trust fund, which is already awaiting Presidential consent, noting it would enhance smooth operations of the Scheme; “especially by addressing the challenges of infrastructure and providing start-up capital for corps members”.
“May I also request all Stakeholders to render support towards the success of our Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD), which is aimed at providing easy access to free and qualitative health care, especially for the rural poor”. she explained.
She appreciated the Federal, State, and Local Governments, as well as Security Agencies, traditional rulers, Corps Employers, and other stakeholders for their support in areas of security and the general welfare of Corps members across the Country.