South West Governors Call on Corps Members to Be Agents of Lasting Change

Governors from South West Nigeria are urging National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Members deployed to various states and communities in the region to create lasting impacts in their host communities.

They emphasize their administration’s steadfast dedication to ensuring the welfare of Corps members throughout their service year

Lagos State

Governor Sanwoolu of Lagos, represented by the Director General Services, Lagos State Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Ibukun Dosunmu, at the official closing ceremony of the 2024 Batch “A” Stream II Orientation Course at the NYSC Lagos Orientation Camp in Iyana-Ipaja Charged corps members to maintain commitment In service.

He urged them to accept their posting to anywhere they are posted in the State, and see it as an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the socio-economic and political development of not only Lagos State but Nigeria at large.

Encouraging them to toe the path of their predecessors, who have contributed to the development of the State, he said the Lagos State Government will not hesitate to recognize and reward corps members who are outstanding in performance at the end of the service year.

Earlier, while giving her introductory address, State Coordinator NYSC Lagos, Mrs Yetunde Baderinwa said the Orientation Course has given them the necessary training about the tenets of the scheme which will make them perform excellently in their primary and secondary assignments.

She called on the corps members to obey the rules and regulations of the NYSC as erring persons will be punished by the by-laws of the NYSC scheme.

She also advised the corps members not to embark on unnecessary travels and that if they must travel, they should get authorization to do that, and must not embark on night journeys.

As part of the programme today, some corps members and officials who distinguished themselves during the 3-week Orientation Course were acknowledged, as the Camp Management commended them for their leadership qualities, hard work, and impact on the overall conduct of the Course.

Meanwhile, Corps members stand a chance to be awarded for outstanding performance during the service year through community impacts via personal projects and collaborative projects.

OYO State

The Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde reiterated the unrelenting commitment of his administration towards ensuring adequate welfare of Corps members serving in Oyo State through their service year.

Governor Makinde, represented by the Commissioner for Youth and sports, Hon. Wasilat Adegoke expressed satisfaction with the attitude, character, and composure of Corps members on parade, he therefore vested confidence in them to make meaningful impacts in their host communities. 

Makinde harped on the training which included the Lectures, Drills, and Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme they have received on camp.

He urged them to allow all those pieces of training to reflect positively in their lives, be role models, and influence people’s life positively.

 He assured Corps members of a peaceful and secure environment throughout their service year. “I wish to inform you that Oyo State people are very hospitable and accommodating. There is no cause to entertain any fear because Oyo State is peaceful.  Feel free to interact with the people of your host communities to enable you share in their dreams, hopes and aspiration for a better life.  Who knows, your host community may even turn out to be a permanent place of abode”. He said. 

The State Coordinator, NYSC, Oyo State Comrade Odoba Abel Oche in his welcome address appealed to Corps employers to provide Corps members with the basic needs such as accommodation and transportation or allowance in lieu. He described this set of Corps members as law abiding, committed, obedient and well mannered despite being youthful. 

Odoba commended the Government of Oyo State under the leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde for the all time support given to NYSC. He equally appreciated all camp officials who labored hard to ensure a hitch-free 2024 batch A stream 2 orientation exercise.

Osun State

In a resounding testament to the pivotal role of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in nurturing the nation’s future leaders, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, lauded the organization’s efforts in shaping youths into national assets.

Speaking at the formal closure of the 2024 Batch A Stream II Orientation Course, held at the Permanent Orientation Camp in Ede, Senator Adeleke underscored the significance of empowering young Nigerians for the task of nation-building.

Represented by the Commissioner of Youth Affairs, Honorable Olalekan Moshood, Senator Adeleke extended his congratulations to the Corps Members deployed to the state, as well as those reassigned from Lagos, for their successful completion of the rigorous three-week orientation program. He commended their unwavering commitment to the call of national service and praised the NYSC for its relentless dedication to equipping youths with essential skills for societal development.

Urging the Corps Members to embrace the core values of the NYSC—unity, patriotism, and selflessness—Senator Adeleke emphasized the imperative of diversity in fostering national progress. He encouraged them to make meaningful contributions to their host communities during their one-year service period, viewing it as an opportunity for both personal growth and collective advancement.

State Coordinator, Mr. Agbor Ndoma Obim, in his address, stressed the pivotal role of the Orientation Course in laying the foundation for a successful service year.

He expressed gratitude to the state government and all stakeholders for their unwavering support in ensuring the program’s success.

Mr. Agbor commended the Corps Members for their exemplary zeal throughout the orientation period, noting that the training provided them with the necessary skills to excel in the subsequent phases of their service. He urged them to serve as ambassadors of the NYSC and actively engage in nation-building endeavors, particularly through their Community Development Service (CDS) projects.

He encouraged the Corps Members to capitalize on the post-camp Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) training to enhance their skills and contribute to the nation’s economic prosperity. Extending his best wishes for a fruitful and impactful service year, he emphasized the importance of discipline in upholding the integrity of the NYSC.

The closing ceremony also witnessed the recognition of camp officials for their outstanding service and commitment during the orientation course, underscoring the collective effort required to mold the nation’s youth into exemplary citizens and leaders.

Ondo State

The Executive Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has asserted that the priority of his administration is to ensure adequate security of all the citizens and residents living in the State.

The Executive Governor made the assertion in his remarks at the closing ceremony for 2024 Batch ‘A’ (Stream II) corps members deployed to the Sunshine State. 

Aiyedatiwa, who was represented at the low-key ceremony by the NYSC Ondo State Coordinator, Mr. Samuel Amaramiro Pepple said that the State will continue to strive, more than ever before, to ensure that corps members in all the nooks and crannies of the state receive special security attention. 

He said that the State will make their stay comfortable and enjoyable, they have a role to play making sure they are identified as corps members all the time and avoiding mixing with miscreants and hoodlums. 

The Governor enjoined them to accept their postings in good faith and at the same time craft their names on stones in the development and transformation of the rural communities by embarking on projects that meet their immediate needs. 

“Most of your predecessors have set an enviable record in this regard and you cannot afford to let them and the nation down. I urge you, therefore, to rededicate yourselves by making the best use of this once in a life time opportunity in the service of our people”.

The number one citizen of the Sunshine State assured members of the service corps that the state is very hospitable, advising them to aclamatise and integrate with the people of their communities and at the same time urging them to respect their world view,  culture, values, beliefs and aspirations. 

The Chief Host and father to all corps members serving in the state commended them for their good behaviour while on camp, and admonished them to continue in that stead as good ambassadors of their families and the country. 

Conclusively, the Governor enjoined them to acquire at least one life skill before the end of the service year so that they will be contributing to the socio-economic development of Ondo State and Nigeria in general

The three weeks orientation course commenced three weeks ago and 1773 registered for the service in Ondo State. 

Two camp officials, who distinguished themselves selflessly during the orientation course were honoured and presented Letter of Commendation. They were Corporal Oluwole Emmanuel from Nigeria Police and Comrade Babatunde Oyelami from the NYSC.