National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Funmi Ojo | Ibadan
Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has urged corps members to be productive and actively participate in community development programmes during their service year.
The governor gave the charge at the closing parade for the 2024 Batch B, Stream 2 orientation course held at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Iseyin on Tuesday.
Governor Makinde, who explained that corps members should be able to account creditably for the way they spent the service year, said the one-year mandatory service was not for gallivanting but should be for sober reflection on how to attain success during and after the service year to pave way for job opportunities.
Represented by Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Miss Wosilat Adegoke, the governor counselled the corps members to be more focused and devoted to skills acquisition and development of entrepreneurial spirit so as to be self-reliant after the service year.
He said, “I urge you to pay special attention to the development of your host communities by identifying viable projects that will positively impact on the lives of our people.
I am aware that several motivational lectures were organized for you and that the skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme was in the front burner. All these are geared towards preparing you for post service self-employment. There are equally hundreds of areas you can apply combinations of energy, education, skills and zeal to make a huge success story in the not too distant future.”
In his address, the State Coordinator, NYSC, Oyo State, Mr. Abel Oche, enjoined Corps employers to ensure adequate welfare of corps members posted to their establishments to cushing the effect of the current economic realities in their services to the nation.
Mr. Oche who explained that the current economic situation had an overbearing impact on the living conditions of the people noted that the provision of welfare packages and accommodation would boost their morale to perform better.
“The welfare of Corps Members is of the utmost importance 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 to make case for corpers’ lodges in all the Local Government Councils as this will assist the Corps Members to settle down on time.
“To my Corps Members, It is important for you to strive and be committed to your duties in return for 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.
“I would like to appeal to the Local Government Authorities to seize the opportunity provided by the Scheme through the Community Development Programme by sponsoring projects identified by Corps Members so that host communities can derive maximum benefits from what they have to offer. On our own part as the managers of the Scheme, we will keep challenging the Corps Members to identify and execute tangible projects in their localities. However, such projects should receive financial support of the host Local Government and members of such communities.”
The highlight of the closing ceremony was the distribution of deployment letters to respective corps members who had undergone twenty-one days orientation training to their various places of primary assignment for the continuation of the one-year national service.
