Mr. Sunday Aroni, Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Lagos State, on Thursday renewed an appeal to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to hasten the construction of a new permanent camp to provide better accommodation for the increasing number of participants in the state.
Aroni, who spoke at the temporary NYSC camp in Agege, Lagos, when 2, 616 fresh members of the 2019 Batch B, Stream 11 took their oath of service, said the call had become necessary due to an increase in the number of corps producing institutions.
This, he added, had necessitated in the increase in the number of the NYSC members being mobilized and deployed to Lagos State, even as he expressed optimism that the dream for the permanent camp to be constructed at Agbowa, in Ikorodu area of the state, would be realised soon.
Aroni, who commended the support the agency has been receiving from the Sanwo-Olu administration, the envisaged modern camp, when constructed, would be befitting for the ‘Centre of Excellence’ status of Lagos.
While congratulating the fresh NYSC members for their completion of their tertiary education, which qualified them for participation in the national service, Aroni said: “At the close of registration, a total of 2, 016 prospective corps members, made up of 916 males and 1,100 females were registered.”
He stressed that since the commencement of the exercise, the youths had proved to be responsible, resourceful and dedicated, adding that the zeal they had exhibited so far showed their great love for the country.
The Lagos NYSC boss added that during the programe, the participants would be undergoing various trainings, designed to inculcate discipline in them, even as he maintained that the youths were expected to use the platform to exhibit leadership qualities of courage, determination, diligence and integrity.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in his speech, congratulated the fresh NYSC members on the commencement of the orientation course, their individual academic achievements, which qualified them for call-up for service., reminding that the phase marked the beginning of a commendable journey to serve their fatherland.
Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mrs Sakirat Iyabode Akinsanya, Director, Administration and Human Resources, the state’s Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Relations, stated that the orientation had been specially packaged to give the participants a solid foothold for a fulfilling service as well as prepare them for the challenges ahead.
He stressed: “The NYSC scheme, according to the founding fathers, is to serve the purpose of building and sustaining national unity, integration, peace as well as increasing the pace of development. I urge you to reflect on the founding purpose of the scheme as well as the legacies and successes it has achieved in the nation through the numerous achievements of your predecossors.
“I charge you to make conscientious effort to contribute to these great feats during national service through selfless commitment and dedication.”
Sanwo-Olu implored them to participate actively in all camp activities and make good use of the orientation course to equip themselves with the requisite attitude, knowledge and skills, even as he urged them to network and build lasting friendship that would contribute positively to their fulfillment of purpose.
“The Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Initiative had been developed and added to the NYSC scheme to help you acquire skills that would make you self-sufficient and accomplished entrepreneurs.
“I urge you to take SAED training seriously as through it, you could be beneficiaries of start-up capital from the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, which is presently in partnership with NYSC Lagos State,” he added.
