ETIM EFFIONG
The Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs Chinyere Ikwe has charged the 1,500 corps members deployed to the state to be always law abiding.
Ikwe said this during the swearing-in ceremony of 2021 Batch ‘B’ Stream II corps members on Tuesday at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Ikot Itie Udung in Nsit Atai Local Government Area.
According to her, the orientation course was meant to prepare them both physically and mentally and would also impact in the corps members the ability to make substantial contributions for the development and progress of the nation.
She said: “I congratulate you for scaling through your academic hurdles and thereby being sent to serve your fatherland.
“It is our responsibility as citizens of Nigeria to be law-abiding. As you are assuming this duty today, I urge you to be law-abiding even after your service year.
“Take advantage of the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) offered here in the camp and build yourselves so that you may contribute positively to the development and progress of our dear nation.”
Meanwhile, the Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, has urged all the corps members across the country to leverage the national service to promote unity and integration through respect to each other’s culture, religion, and socio-economic lives.
Ibrahim, whose speech was read by the Akwa Ibom coordinator, charged the corps members to remain disciplined and comply strictly with all rules and regulations governing the activities in the orientation camp.
He added that deviation from good conduct would attract sanctions on recalcitrant in line with NYSC bye-laws.
“May I also stress that you have been deliberately assembled from diverse ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds to enable you to begin, right from here, the performance of your much-envisaged roles in the promotion of the national unity and integration.
“Accordingly, I encourage you to ensure healthy interactions, exchange ideas that will broaden your understanding of the country and building lasting friendship.
“It is gratifying to note that you have demonstrated a commendable level of discipline and enthusiasm since your arrival in Camp.
“You must comply strictly with all camp rules and regulations and be obedient to your camp officials.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we shall apply appropriate sanctions on recalcitrant Corps Members in line with the provisions of the NYSC Bye-Laws,” he said.
He commended the Presidential Steering Committee and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for their support and guidance towards safe conduct of the orientation course through Rapid Diagnostic Testing.