Eddy Megwa, the Lagos State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has charged corps members deployed to the state to use the skills learned at orientation camp to supplement their education.
Megwa delivered the charge on Tuesday at the NYSC temporary orientation camp in Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos, during the swearing-in of 2116 corps members from the 2021 Batch C, Stream 2.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mrs Atinuke Oluyemi, a representative of the Chief Justice of Lagos State, administered the oath of office to the corps members.
According to NAN, the 2116 corp members were made up of 1,410 females and 706 males.
He stated that the NYSC had made Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship a mandatory program, claiming that it would serve as an alternative means of generating income for corp members both during and after their service.
“I urge you corps members, now that you have been sworn in as full corp members, to make the most of every program that has been put in place to get you through the three weeks of orientation.”
“Among the paramilitary training, lectures, and social activities is a skill acquisition program in various beats, with the goal of you creating wealth and becoming an employer of labor in the absence of a white-collar job.”
“I also want to remind you that you have taken a lifetime pledge to protect the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that you must demonstrate character and learning as part of efforts to promote national unity.”
“I am pleased with the trainers, citizenship, leadership, military, police, defense, and other service units who have joined forces with the NYSC to bring an unbreakable administration to the orientation camp,” he said.
While expressing confidence in the corps members’ abilities, he stated that the NYSC orientation camp was not a haven for laxity, tribalism, or hatred, but rather a place where unity is the watchword.
“From the moment they arrive at the orientation camp, we begin to tell them and bring to their understanding the A, B, C of NYSC, and most importantly, we preach to them that unity in diversity is the only language we hold firm,” Megwa added.
Concerning COVID-19 and vaccination, Megwa stated that the corps members and NYSC staff in the camp have been tested and are negative, but that everyone must get vaccinated.
He went on to say that, in accordance with a Federal Government directive, measures have been put in place to ensure that all corps members receive the COVID-19 vaccination, even while at orientation camp.
“NYSC is partnering with the Ministry of Health at the federal level, and this is being drawn to the state level, where states NYSC/Secretariat are also partnering with the Ministry of Health.”
“Both corps participants and NYSC officials have been tested and verified COVID-19 free; yet, health agency officials visit to this orientation camp virtually every day to vaccinate the corps members.”
“It’s a continual exercise until all corps members are properly vaccinated before December 14, when they will complete their orientation programs and move to sites of primary assignments,” Megwa explained.
The Lagos NYSC boss also asked Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to make work easier in the NYSC’s ongoing permanent orientation camp at Agbowa, Ikorodu, to accommodate teaming graduates deployed to Lagos for service.
He stated that due to insufficient space in the Lagos temporary camp at Ipaja, 633 corps members deployed to Lagos were relocated to Osun State and 382 to Ogun State.