The National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) has sworn in 1,294 corps members of the 2024 Batch B Stream two set, deployed to Enugu State for the one-year mandatory national service.
The state Coordinator, NYSC, Mrs Christiana Salmwang, gave the number, on Friday during the swearing-in ceremony at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Awgu Local Government Area, Enugu State. Salmwang noted that the corps members comprised 617 males and 677 females.
The state coordinator urged the corps members to pay special attention to the skill acquisition training, which had been reinvigorated by the management of the scheme. She added that the scheme was to create opportunity for the corps members to acquire vocational skills during the service year to enable them contribute to national development.
She added that it would make them become self reliant, attain financial freedom and become job creators rather than job seekers. She appreciated the Enugu State Government for its support and assistance to the NYSC scheme, especially its effort geared towards the renovation of the camp.
She appealed to Gov. Peter Mbah led administration for the completion of the renovation of the hostels which was started in 2023, the construction of the access road to the camp and within the camp as the road was posing challenges to motorists, especially during rainy season.
“We are pleading for the provision of operational vehicles to facilitate inspection of corps members who are serving in every part of the state.
“We are also requesting for the dredging of a second borehole to ease the problem of water supply in the camp as the single borehole is inadequate for camp use,” she appealed. Declaring the orientation camp open, governor Mbah represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Ifeanyi Ossai said that the scheme was designed to ensure integration, brotherhood and sisterhood across the length and breath of Nigeria.
At each point in time, the scheme is an assignment that is taken seriously by Enugu State Government because it is interested on what happens around the NYSC in Enugu, according to Mbah.
“Enugu State is ready and willing with open arms to make it possible for you to execute this assignment without hitch and hindrance,” he said. He urged the corps members to give their best in this service year. “We want to enjoin you to take seriously all the activities of the programme because it is in those activities that you will be able to deploy yourself and prepare for service and leadership ahead of you,” he said.
Responding to the challenges in the NYSC camp, the governor said that his administration had deployed resources to begin to address some of those challenges.
He said that his administration would not shy away from completing the projects it had started.
Administering the oath of allegiance, the The Enugu State Chief Judge, Justice Raymond Ozoemena, represented by Justice A. O. Onovo urged the corps members to be disciplined at all times.
“Discipline in the camp during this orientation programme is necessary for the orientation to be successful.
“Discipline in life is also necessary for any success outside the camp. In all facets of human existence, there is need for you to maintain discipline, which is maintenance of law and order.
“Without discipline, whatever you are doing will likely flop,” Onove said.
