The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, on Tuesday, sworn-in 2,266 corps members, 866 male, and 1400 female for the Batch ‘C’ Stream II mandatory one-year national youth service in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
The NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, at the swearing-in ceremony at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Kubwa, Abuja urged them to use the service year to contribute to the progress and development of the country.
Ibrahim, who urged the corps members to shun cultism and other vices, advised them to utilize the service year to realize their potential and attain the heights they desired.
“I commend you for your prompt response to the clarion call to serve our fatherland. No doubt, history will be kind to you for your patriotic zeal.
“I enjoin you to always ponder over the significance of the oath and be guided by its spirit and letters. In the same vein, I advise you to familiarize yourselves with the content of both the NYSC Act and the NYSC Bye-Laws.
“Let me use this opportunity to caution you against indulgence in cultism, drug abuse, and other social vices.
“I also urge you to use social media only for the promotion of unity and other positive purposes rather than rumor peddling and the promotion of hatred,” Mr Ibrahim said.
The director-general said that corps members were deliberately posted away from their states of origin to help broaden their understanding of the country and the different ethnic groups.
He said that this would enable them to effectively contribute to the promotion of national unity and integration.
Ibrahim also urged them to get vaccinated without delay as it has become a pre-requisite for gaining entry to public offices from Dec. 1.
“As you may be aware, the Federal Government has announced a plan to make a presentation of evidence of COVID-19 vaccination by civil servants a pre-requisite for gaining entry to public offices from Dec. 1
“I encourage those of you, who are yet to take the vaccine, to do so without further delay as the rule can apply to corps members in places of primary assignment.
“Of greater significance is the fact that the vaccine will keep you safe. We are already in touch with the relevant authorities to ensure that the vaccines are made available to you in the course of this programme.
“I will like to express our profound gratitude to the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), whose support and guidance are facilitating the safe and efficient conduct of the orientation course within the context of the ‘new normal,” Ibrahim said.
The NYSC boss urged the corps members to utilize the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship, SAED, Programme of the scheme to learn various skills for self-employment and wealth creation.
According to him, many ex-corps members, who embraced vocational and entrepreneurial training on the SAED platform, are now successful business owners.
He said “I encourage you to stay off the long queue of job seekers by choosing from the various skillsets and participating fully in the training sessions.
“On our part, we shall continue to work with relevant stakeholders, including financial institutions, to enable you to actualize your business dreams,” Mr Ibrahim said.
The FCT Chief Judge, Justice Hussain Baba, represented by Hon. Justice Angela Otaluka, officiated the swearing-in ceremony.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that some of the highlights of the orientation camp activities include lessons on the four cardinal programmes of the NYSC, leadership coaching, paramilitary drills, and other physical training as well as sensitization on topical national issues.
The mandatory orientation course will hold till Tuesday, Dec. 14.
NAN
