…SAYS PASSING OUT SIGNALS COMMENCEMENT OF HIGHER SERVICE TO NIGERIA
Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has commended members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for their contributions to the successful conduct of the last governorship election in the state.
Dr. Fayemi also appreciated their contributions to the improvement of the education sector in the state which has seen private and public schools in the state being rated among the best in the country.
The Governor who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, spoke at the Passing-Out Parade of the 2021 Batch ‘B’ Steam 1 Corps Members held at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on Thursday.
According to a statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Deputy Governor, Odunayo Ogunmola, a total number of 1, 416 corps members in the batch successfully completed their service year with six of them winning state awards at the ceremony.
Seven of the corps members during the service year had their service extended while eleven were re-mobilised on account of their outright abscondment with one death recorded.
Governor Fayemi assured that his administration would continue to assist the NYSC to succeed within the limits of its resources lauding the scheme for its support in the growth of some sectors in the state.
The state’s number one citizen urged the successful corps members not to see their passing out from the scheme as the end of their service to their country but to see it as the commencement of.higher service to their fatherland.
He enjoined the departing corps members to see what they could do to reposition Nigeria for peace, progress, stability and democracy urging them to join hands with government at all levels to build a strong and cohesive country as envisaged by NYSC founding fathers.
Apparently impressed with the conduct of the last governorship poll, the Governor said the exercise wouldn’t have been successful without the contributions of the corps members whom he credited with conducting themselves honourably to deliver a peaceful process.
He said: “Worthy of mentioning also is your contribution to the success recorder in the last gubernatorial election held on the 18th of June, 2022 which has once again placed Ekiti State as one of the safest and most peaceful places to live in Nigeria.
“The electioneering process was adjudged to be free and fair by both national and international observers. The way and manner you conducted yourselves during the election period is highly commendable. God will reward all your good deeds and show of love for your fatherland.”
On their contribution to education, he said: “The government and people of Ekiti State appreciate your immense contributions to our development process. You would recall that on arrival in the state one year ago, you were told among other things that, Ekiti people have unquenchable passion for education.
“It gladdens my heart that the available information at my disposal confirmed your contributions to improvement on the sector. The efforts you put in has contributed immensely in both private and public schools by being rated amongst the best in the nation. Therefore, your indelible marks would be remembered by the good people of Ekiti State.”
The Governor noted that the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme which they went through in the camp and post-camp training would propel them to contribute immensely to their personal growth and that of the economy.
Speaking earlier, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs. Mary Chikezie, said all the achievements recorded by the corps members wouldn’t have been possible without the support and encouragement received from their host communities, employers and the state government.
Apart from the governorship election, Mrs. Chikezie also identified the enumeration off pupils for the Home Grown Feeding Programme of the Federal Government as another areas where the corps members distinguished themselves in the course of their service year.
The NYSC chief further disclosed that they contributed immensely to environmental sanitation, health care services, donations to charity homes, extramural classes, fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria, corruption, drug abuse, road accidents, illiteracy, among others.
She charged the corps members to imbibe the spirit of wealth creation gained through their exposure to skills acquisition programmes assuring that the issue of raising start-up capitals would soon be a thing of the past as stakeholders await the presidential assent to the NYC Trust Fund Bill.