Eno urges corps members to shun vices

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has urged Corps members deployed to the state to shun vices that tend to truncate the lives of the youths during their service year.

Eno said this during the official opening/swearing-in ceremony for 2024 Batch A Stream 1 Corps Members at the NYSC permanent orientation camp on Tuesday in Ikot Itie Udung, Nsit Atai in Akwa Ibom.

The governor, who was represented by Mr Monday Uko, Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development said that they should stay away from the use of hard and illicit drugs to avoid destroying their future.

He charged the corps members to concern themselves with virtues that will stand them out as future leaders.

“You must therefore shun those vices that tend to truncate the lives of the youths such as the use of hard illicit drugs, engaging in cult activities, kidnapping and armed robbery.

“You should concern yourselves with those virtues that will stand you out as outstanding individuals in this camp and throughout the service year,” Eno said.

Eno assured corps members that the State Government has taken necessary measures to ensure the safety of their lives and property.

The governor said that was aware of the needs of the camp, assuring the corps members of improved facilities during their stay.

Eno called on corps members to take the orientation course seriously and internalise the ideals of the nation as it is an integral part of the service year.

Earlier in her remarks, the State Coordinator of NYSC in Akwa Ibom, Mrs Chinyere Ekwe, informed the corps members that the orientation course was designed to instil the spirit of perseverance, discipline, and resilience to adequately overcome the challenges of the service year.

Ekwe disclosed that about 1, 846 corps members, comprising 975 males and 871 females were deployed to the state for the mandatory one-year service.

She urged the corps members to take the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme seriously as is packaged to provide them with a veritable platform to overcome the challenges of unemployment.

She commended the state government for its unflinching support for the development of facilities in the orientation camp for the welfare of corps members.

She, however, reminded the state government that the NYSC Camp is in dire need of renovation as the camp lacks light as it is not connected to the national grid and lacks of perimeter fence to ensure adequate security of the camp facilities.

The state coordinator admonished the corps members to be of exemplary conduct and internalise the ideals of national service as enshrined in the oath of allegiance.

Our Correspondent reports that the high point of the event was the administration of the Oath of Allegiance on the corps members by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom, Justice Ekaete Obot, represented by Justice Nkereuwem Obot.