Akpan Umoh, Uyo
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has urged the 1,260 corps members deployed to Akwa Ibom State for one-year mandatory national service to be security conscious and obey camp rules and regulations.
The Director-General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Muhammad Fadah, said this during the swearing-in ceremony of 2022 Batch ‘B’ Stream 2 corps members at NYSC Orientation Camp, Ikot Itie Udung, Nsit Atai LGA on Tuesday.
Fadah, who was represented by the Akwa Ibom Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs Chinyere Ekwe, urged corps members to be patriotic as the orientation course was designed to introduce them to the objectives and programmes of the scheme.
He warned corps members against promoting hatred as one of the objectives of NYSC is the promotion of national unity and integration.
He admonished the corps members to demonstrate a high level of discipline, adding that the regimented nature of the camp was intended to instil discipline and build resilience.
The DG reminded the corps members that white-collar jobs were no longer readily available, urging them to embrace the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) to be self-employed.
“You are strongly advised to be security conscious at all times and to report any suspicious character or activities around you to the appropriate authorities.
“As you may be aware, one of the objectives of NYSC is the promotion of national unity and integration.
“Hence, your deployment away from your states of origin and your assemblage here from diverse ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds.
“I implore you to sustain the high level of discipline and enthusiasm you have demonstrated so far, especially by remaining compliant with the camp rules and regulations.
“I also urge you to avoid using social media for spreading fake news, fuelling hatred and other negative purposes, and instead deploy the same for the promotion of national unity and development.
“Therefore, I encourage you to avail yourselves of the opportunities for self-employment offered through the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Programme.
“You are expected to choose from any of the skills 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 programme,” Fadah said.
Fadah reminded the corps members that the oath of allegiance taken was significant, as it would guide their conduct in the service year.
He enjoined them to avail themselves of the one-in-a-life-time opportunity by participating actively in all camp activities.
The DG expressed appreciation for the support of the Federal, State, and Local Governments as well as security agencies, traditional rulers, Corps Employers and other stakeholders for supporting the scheme.
Our correspondent reports that the highpoint of the event was the administration of the oath of allegiance to the corps members by the Akwa Ibom, Chief Judge, Justice Ekaette Obot, who was represented by Justice Bassey Nkanang.