Mr. Sunday Aroni, the new Lagos State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), on Thursday renewed call for the government to assist the agency in the construction of a befitting permanent orientation camp in the state.
Speaking at the official opening and swearing in of the 2019 Batch ‘B’, Stream 1 corps members deployed to Lagos State at the NYSC temporary camp, Iyana Ipaja, Agege, Aroni, while appreciating the government for allocating 10 hectares of land at Agbowa, Epe area of the state, said the new camp if constructed, would guarantee the increased number of corps manpower to the state.
He disclosed that the NYSC officials in the state had already resumed discussions with officials of the state government since the assumption of office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the possibility of starting the project as early as possible, saying the talks had been fruitful.
Aroni said: “Let me at this juncture, express my sincere appreciation again to the government of Lagos State for the allocation of 10 hectares of land at Agbowa, Epe local government area.
“It is our ardent belief that our amiable and youth-friendly governor will put all necessary measures in place for the construction of a very befitting permanent orientation camp in the Centre of Excellence.
“Lagos State will not only come out as one of the best camps, but will guarantee the increased number of corps manpower to the state.”
Aroni, stated that the number of corps members being posted to the state had witnessed tremendous increase, stressing that for the Batch ‘B’, Stream 1 corps members, 2,568 of them were registered, 1,732 of them females and 888 of them males.
He reported that since the orientation commenced on June 18, the corps members, who he recognized as “young patriots”, had shown their allegiance and readiness to serve the nation by quickly readjusting to the regimented nature of the camp and had exhibited a high level of dedication and commitment to orientation activities.
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Aroni urged the new corps members to be dogged, committed and disciplined for the orientation to be successful, as he told them that their period in the camp would witness para-military drills, lectures, leadership trainings, even as he added that the trainings had been designed to impact in them virtues of leadership, social skills and emotional intelligence.
He said the agency had also being in consultation with all security agencies for the provision of security for the corps members at the temporary orientation camp at Iyana Ipaja, Agege.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mrs. Folasade Jaji, the Secretary of the State Government (SSG), expressed joy that the NYSC scheme had over the years, maintained the dreams of its founding fathers, which he said, were essentially to promote understanding, unity and harmonious relationship among the diverse people that make up Nigeria.
He commended the NYSC for its continuous role in the patriotic services and commitment of corps members in deepening the nation’s democracy by their participation in the electoral system, including the recent elections that ushered in the current administration.
“The orientation programme has been packaged to give you a solid foothold for a fulfilling service year as well as prepare you for the challenges of your service and post service life.
“I enjoin you to take all aspects of the orientation course seriously, as it has been uniquely structured to prepare you for the service year and beyond. I wish to make special mention of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme, which is designed to train and prepare you for economic independence, particularly after the service year.
“This novel idea was put in place to empower corps members with requisite skills in the course of their service to become employer of labour and not job seekers,” Sanwo-Olu told the corps members.
