BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
In Ebonyi, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has inducted the Batch 'C' Stream 'II' Corps Members and charged them to be actively participating in the camp programmes while undertaking their three weeks orientation course in the state.
The NYSC Director General, Professor Shauib Ibrahim stated this on Tuesday while addressing the corps members during their swearing-in-ceremony at the the scheme's Permanent Site, Old MacGregor College, Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state.
The NYSC DG ably represented by the State Coordinator, Mrs Bamai Mercy Dawuda, expressed joy over the successful induction of the new corps members, noting that their prompt response to the clarion call to serve the nation remained laudable.
Prof Ibrahim, explained that, as the launch-pad for the service year, the orientation course would prepare the corps members physically and mentally for their expected contributions to the progress and development of the country.
"It will equip you for the realization of your potentials and attainment of individual feats both within the period of the service and beyond," the DG added.
He charged the corps members to make good use of the opportunity by ensuring full participation in all the camp activities including leadership coaching, paramilitary drills, other physical trainings, sensitization on topical issues, amongst others.
While advising the new corps members to stand firm in promoting national unity, the NYSC DG encouraged them to continue to demonstrate high level of discipline and enthusiasm throughout the exercise, and asked them to shun cultism, drug abuse and other social vices.
Ibrahim observed that white collar jobs are hard to come by these days, and however, advised the corps members to always avail themselves to all the opportunities, which will equip them with impactful skills to become self-employed.
"It is no longer news that white collar jobs are hard to come by. For this reason, the empowerment of corps members for self-employment and wealth creation has been a major area of focus for the scheme since 2012. You will from this moment be availed of the opportunity through our Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme. I am happy to inform you that many of your predecessors, who embraced vocational and entrepreneurial training on the SAED platform, are now successful business owners.
"I therefore, encourage you to stay off the long queue of job seekers by choosing from various skill sets and participating fully in the training sessions. On our various part, we shall continue to work with relevant stakeholders, including financial institutions, to enable you actualize your business dreams," the DG said.
He also urged the corps members to continue to comply with the COVID-19 protocols throughout their orientation period, by ensuring physical distancing, wearing of face masks and making good use of hand washing facilities, which he said, were provided at the strategic locations in the camp.
Prof Ibrahim reminded the new corps members to be aware that, "Federal government has announced plan to make presentation of evidence of COVID-19 vaccination by civil servants a pre-requisite for gaining entry to public offices from Ist December, 2021."
He advised those who have not taken the vaccine to do so without further delay, stressing that the rule could apply to corps members in places of primary assignment, while expressing gratitude to the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, for their support and guidance facilitating the safe and efficient conduct of the orientation course within the context of the 'new normal.'
He equally appreciated the NCDC for the continuous provision of Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits and sensitization materials for usage in all orientation camps, commended other stakeholders including the National Agency for the Control of AIDS and the TY Danjuma Foundation, for the donation of tens of thousands of the same kits to the scheme and as well extolled the contributions of Federal, state, and local governments, alongside the security agencies and other aiding organisations.
Recall that NYSC in the state, sworn in a total of 1,606 corps members, comprising 819 males and 787 females.
