Four members of the Batch ‘A’ National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who passed out on Thursday in Lagos State died during their service period.
Mr. Eddy Megwa, the NYSC State Coordinator, announced this during the passing-out parade of the batch in Lagos on Thursday.
Although, he did not give details of the late corps members, findings by The NEXT EDITION indicated that they were two males and two females.
He also stated that a total of 5,698 corps members of the batch completed their service in the state, while over 2,000 of them had already started businesses of their own as a result of the agency’s skills acquisition programme.
These ex-corps members, he stressed, would stay back in Lagos to contribute their quota to the state’s economy, even as he commended the participants for their commitment and enthusiasm in the service of their fatherland.
Mr. Megwa also announced that three of the ex-corps members, Evans Tochukwu Favour, Abiodun Oluwapelumi and Sani Saheed, bagged the Governor’s Awards due to the positive impact they made, not only in the camp, but also in places of their primary assignments.
He commended the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olusola Sanwo-Olu, for his support to the state’s NYSC so far, especially his commitment to the provision of a permanent orientations camp for the agency.
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Megwa, while commending the ex-corps members for their excellent behaviour during their service period, urged them to be good ambassadors of the NYSC wherever they found themselves and carry on the embodiments of the corps as envisioned by the programme’s founding fathers.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in his speech, maintained that the NYSC scheme had continued to remain relevant, even as it had over the years contributed to the growth and development of the country.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Dr. Jimoh Yusuff, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties, stated that apart from fostering unity and integration, the NYSC’s intervention had provided opportunities for corps members to contribute to the advancement of the nation’s electoral process and entrenchment of democracy in the country.
“We acknowledge and commend your contributions in the areas of health, education, sensitisation and awareness campaigns on equal treatment of the girl-child, drug abuse, rape and domestic violence, as well as other developmental projects that were executed during the course of the service year.
“I believe that the National Youth Service Corps has equipped you with the necessary skills and experience needed to prepare you for future challenges.
“As you are going into a new phase of life, I urge you to put into use all the lessons and skills acquired, including hardwork, diligence and perseverance,” he stressed.
Sanwo-Olu maintained that as a government, his administration would continue to support the NYSC to promote interests of the youth and the spirit of national integration, adding that the government’s focus was to give the youth all necessary support to unleash their innovation and creative skills to become job creators.