There was wild jubilation at the Nigeria Youth Service Corp (NYSC) orientation camp, Iyana-Ipaja, Tuesday, as the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, made a promise to release the sum of N5 billion naira for the construction of a permanent orientation camp for the scheme.
Expressing delight at the parade by corp members, the Governor also added: “I cannot come here and watch the very outstanding parade that I have seen here this morning. You truly deserve a permanent site. And so, this year alone, I will be putting available a total of N5 billion naira that will be used to start the full development of the permanent site for NYSC.
“We will ensure that before the end of our administration, that site will be available for future NYSC corp members.”
Sanwo-Olu also announced that the 4,254 corp members in the current scheme will get N100,000 in from the state government in the coming week.
Speaking further during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Batch ‘B’ stream of the NYSC orientation course, held at the Iyana-Ipaja temporary site, Governor Sanwo-Olu also announced the sum of N100 million gift to NYSC and other support staff at the camp as well automatic employment of best 100 corp members of the outgoing batch.
Admonishing corps members to be of good character and embrace challenges for which they have been adequately prepared in the 3-week orientation course, Sanwo-Olu reiterated that the significance of the program is to foster national unity and coercion.
He said: “I want you to actively engage in your various local communities. I want you to go out there and challenge whatever it’s you met there as status quo. Address those challenges and contribute meaningfully to whatever discussion that you find yourself in.
“As you venture into various fields, I want you to exemplify the lessons of discipline, perseverance, teamwork and a unique sense of patriotism which I believe are part of the things that you have imbibed in the last three weeks.
“As you leave this camp, remember that the road ahead is illuminated with possibilities. The road ahead too could be very tough, daunting and challenging. But you have been equipped with new skills, you have been equipped with a new perspective to life, and therefore the determination to create a positive impact has been left with you.
“The experiences you have gained during these past three weeks, we imagined and believe have prepared you to embrace the challenge and opportunities that lie ahead.”
He assured the Corp members that Lagos will receive them well and provide the enablement required for them to succeed, while also assuring them that Lagos is land full of boundless opportunities, urging them to go all out and grab them.
He commended the NYSC and other agencies involved in the exercise for their commitment and dedication to work.
He said that the NYSC scheme has prepared millions of successful graduates for what they eventually became.
Earlier in her welcome address, the State Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs Yetunde Baderinwa, appreciated the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his unwavering support for and believe in the scheme in Lagos, particularly on the donation of a brand new 32-seater Hyundai bus for the use of the NYSC.
Giving a breakdown of 4,254 corps members posted to the state, Baderinwa said they have all demonstrated a high level of dedication and discipline.
She urged the Batch ‘B’ corpers to be of good behavior and adhere to NYSC by-laws, which she said will be invoked anytime the need arises.
Out of the total posted to Lagos, she explained that 4277 originally posted, but some, for lack of space, dislodged Ogun and Osun states.
She also expressed optimism that, as the exercise continues to the next level of the service years, which includes primary and secondary assignment, the corps members will perform excellently well, having imbibed the tenets of the scheme.
