A total of 2,067 corps members deployed to Ogun State, on Thursday, commenced a 21-day orientation programme at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permanent camp in Sagamu.
The 2020 Batch ‘A’ Stream II comprises of 1,024 males and 1, 043 females of which 82 made up of pregnant, nursing mothers and others corps members with critical health issues were granted exit permit from the camp.
Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Ogun State governor, welcomed the corps members to the state, saying the call to service should be considered a privilege hinged on the successful completion of their various academic programmes.
The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Dr. Kehnde Oludare, said the scheme had been at the forefront of promoting the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) project as it had been entrenched by his administration.
He acknowledged that the deployment of corps members had continued to impact positively on communities in the state, especially at the grassroots, saying that NYSC scheme had stood the test of time and achieved tremendous gains in the drive towards achieving national integrity, social development, just and egalitarian society.
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In her welcome address, Dr. Belinda Faniyi, the NYSC Ogun State Coordinator, welcomed the young graduates to the state in honour of the call to serve their fatherland.
“Distinguished guests, the orientation Course will last for 21 days during which corps members are expected to acquire the right frame of mind that will enable them to face challenges of national service,” she added.
Faniyi assured the corps members of measures already put in place following the outbreak of COVID-19 to guard against the contraction of the deadly virus by corps members, saying that the scheme would not postpone mobilisation at any point in time due to the COVID-19 virus.
She lauded the support of Governor Abiodun for his unwavering assistance to the scheme, especially in the provision of quality welfare packages to corps members and extensive renovation of the orientation camp facilities, provision of fans, boreholes, and recent automatic employment of two 2019 Batch A corps members that distinguished themselves in service.