The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu has cautioned Corps Members against exposing themselves to danger during their service year.
He gave the warning while addressing members of the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream I at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Paiko, Niger State, North-Central Nigeria.
Brigadier General Nafiu said the NYSC has put in place various strategies to ensure the safety and security of all Corps Members throughout their service year.
He also urged the Corps Members to adhere strictly to camp rules and regulations, warning that those who violate the Scheme’s bye-laws would face appropriate sanctions.
“Play your own part very well and you will have a smooth service year,” he said.
In her address during the Swearing-in Ceremony, the NYSC Niger State Coordinator, Mrs. Martina Shuaibu-Ibrahim, said the Scheme would instill in the Corps Members, the core principles and objectives of the NYSC during the Orientation period.
She said that the Corps Members would be exposed to a wide range of skills aimed at developing an entrepreneurial mindset and building strong business networks.
“The Orientation Course marks the beginning of your journey as Members of the NYSC. The NYSC has made provisions for your intellectual and physical development through various lectures and physical drills,” she stated.
While declaring the Orientation Exercise opened, Niger State Governor, Umar Bago said the Scheme remained one of the strongest tools for national unity and development in the country, which had not failed in any of its set objectives over the past five decades.
He stated further that NYSC had been able to sustain its mandate of mobilising Nigerian graduate youths and instilling in them, noble qualities of commitment, patriotism, teamwork, integrity and tolerance.
The Governor also lauded Corps Members’ immense contributions to the development strides in all sectors of the economy in the country.
“As you fully resume camp activities, I urge you to be disciplined, bearing in mind that your service year is coming at a time when the country is faced with a myriad of challenges. It is therefore expected that you use your energy and enthusiasm to fully engage in matters of national interest and development.
Always see yourselves as agents of change, armed with potentials to move this nation to enviable heights,” he said.
“As government, we will continue to provide enabling environment for the Scheme to thrive in the State,” he said.
Governor Bago, whose address was read at the ceremony by the Secretary to Niger State Government who is also the Chairman, NYSC Niger State Governing Board, Alhaji Abubakar Usman Gawu gave assurance of his administration’s strong resolve to provide a befitting Orientation Camp for the comfort of Corps Members deployed to the State.
He called on the security agencies to partner with the government towards ensuring that the safety of Corps Members in Niger State is accorded top priority at all times.
Hon. Justice Mohammed Mohammed administered the Oath of Allegiance on the 1,025 Corps Members comprising 456 males and 569 females.
Lateefah Ibrahim