Eddy Megwa, Lagos state coordinator of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has called on corps members deployed to the state to avail themselves of skills acquired in orientation camp to complement their education.
This call was made by Megwa on Tuesday at the swearing-in of 2116 corp members of 2021 Batch C, Stream 2 at the NYSC temporary orientation camp, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.
According to NAN report, the swearing-in oath of the corps members was administered by Mrs Atinuke Oluyemi, representative of the Chief Justice of Lagos State.
NAN reports that the 2116 corp members comprised of 1,410 females and 706 males.
He said that NYSC had made Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship a compulsory programme, saying that it would serve as an alternative means of generating income for corp members during and after service.
“I urge you corps members, now that you have been sworn in as full corp members to make the best use of every programme that has been prepared to take you through the three weeks of orientation.
“Amongst the para-military training, lectures and social activities, is skill acquisition programme in various beat and the idea is for you to create wealth and further be an employer of labour in the absence of a white-collar job.
“I also need to remind you that you have taken a lifetime oath to defend the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that you must exhibit in character and in learning as part of efforts to promote national unity.
“I am fulfilled with the trainers, citizenship, leadership, military, police, defence and other service units that have come to team hands with the NYSC to bring an unbreakable administration in the orientation camp,” he said.
While expressing confidence that the corps members would distinguish themselves, he declared that the NYSC orientation camp was not a bed of roses for laxity, tribalism, hatred but where unity is the watchword.
“The moment they enter the orientation camp, we begin to tell them and bring to their understanding the A, B, C of NYSC, most importantly we preach to them the unity in diversity been the only language we hold firm,” Megwa added.
On the issue of COVID-19 and vaccination, Megwa noted that the corps members and staff of NYSC in the camp have been tested and are negative, but emphasised that everyone must get the vaccination.
He added that in line with the Federal Government directive, measures have been put in place to ensure that all corps members get the COVID-19 vaccination, even while they are in the orientation camp.
“NYSC at the federal level is partnering with the ministry of health, and that is drawn to the state level and states NYSC/Secretariat are equally partnering with state Ministry of Health.
“Both corps members and officials of the NYSC have been tested and certified COVID-19 free, however, the health agency officials come to this orientation camp almost every day to vaccinate the corpd members.
“It’s a continuous exercise until all the corps members are fully vaccinated before December 14 when they will complete their orientation programmes and proceed to places of primary assignments,” Megwa said.
The Lagos NYSC boss also appealed to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to facilitate work in its ongoing permanent orientation camp ay Agbowa, Ikorodu, to accommodate teaming graduates deployed to Lagos for service.
He said that due to inadequate accommodation in the Lagos temporary camp at Ipaja, 633 corps members deployed to Lagos were dislodged to Osun State and 382 to Ogun State as a result of inadequate space.
(NAN)