The Executive Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has charged corps members to actualise the vision of the founding fathers by working towards the development of the country.
The Executive Governor made the charge in his address during the official opening ceremony and swearing-in ceremony for the 2024 Batch 'C' (Stream 1) corps members deployed to Ondo State.
Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Honourable Saka Yusuf Ogunleye, said that members of the service corps should brace all odds and give their best to the nation.
According to the Governor, corps members face a greater challenge to prove that the future of Nigeria and coming generations will be secured in their hands.
He enjoined them to re-dedicate themselves and brace up for the tasks ahead, adding that they would be exposed to the daunting, arduous but fulfilling challenges of national development.
Aiyedatiwa said that the period of their induction into national service is a time of sober reflection on the evolution of the country and their roles as catalysts for the much needed national rebirth and re-construction.
The Special Guest of honour, however admonished them to eschew all forms of negative tendencies and rededicate themselves, with all vigour to the tasks of bringing about positive changes.
The Chief Host of all the corps members deployed to Ondo, the Sunshine State assured them that their welfare and security would be adequately taken care of during their service year.
The Governor, who recently won the gubernatorial election for a four year fresh mandate, promised that his administration will continue to support the National Youth Service Corps in the state at all times to ensure that they have a memorable service year.
In fulfillment of the provision of the Act establishing the National Youth Service Corps, which derived its strength from the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, Aiyedatiwa declared open the orientation course, with a call to the new entrants into the noble Scheme to take a cue from their predecessors and be selfless and remain patriotic citizens of Nigeria during and after the service year.
In her welcome address, the Ondo State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Kuburat Omowumi Bakare informed the corps members that the orientation course has been packaged to, among other things, introduce them to the objectives and programmes of the NYSC Scheme.
The State Coordinator equally added that the three weeks induction was meant to prepare them for the challenges of service year and post-service life, as well as acquaint them with their new socio-cultural environment as corps members.
Bakare disclosed that while on camp, they will be introduced to series of extra-curricular camp activities that are exciting, rewarding and memorable, which included lectures on Tradition and Culture of the Yorubas, Leadership Lectures, Entrepreneurial Training, Parade Drills, Man 'O' War Training, Social and Cultural activities, Sports, Inter-Platoon Skills Acquisition competition amongst others.
She used the opportunity of the opening ceremony to encourage the Local Governments, corporate citizens and well-meaning Nigerians and philanthropists as well as other stakeholders to come and invest in the infrastructural development of the Permanent Orientation Camp and make their presence felt in the Camp by having a project 'which we promise to name after such entity'.
According to her, the camp lacked adequate hostel accommodation to house corps members and camp officials, and this has been hampering effective service delivery to the members of the service corps.
While thanking the Executive Governor for his love for youth development, especially his commitment to upgrade the camp facilities and structures, she announced that as at the time of official cut-off, a total number of 1244 made up of 567 males and 677 females have registered for service in Ondo State.
The administration of Oath of Allegiance on the registered corps members was performed by the representative of the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Hon. Justice Bankole Akinwunmi, who charged them to be proud of their fatherland, appreciate, cherish the culture, traditions, arts and languages of the nation/people.
Justice Akinwunmi equally admonished them to genuinely identify themselves with the problems and aspirations of the people of the areas in which they would work.
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