By Elijah Ugani
The Governor of Cross River State, Sir Ben Ayade has called on corps members deployed to Cross River State for the compulsory one year national service to focus on national consciousness and integration rather ethnic bigotry.
Ayade made the call during the 2020 Batch B stream 1A swearing in ceremony of 600 corps members at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Obubra Local Government Area.
His words “While I urge you not to take the service year as an ordinary adventure, you are expected to be better citizens who at the end of the service year have course to celebrate meaningful contributions to national development.
So, focus immensely on national consciousness and Integration rather than ethnic bigotry. This becomes necessary judging from the recent agitation by a large section of Nigerian youths through the legitimate end SARS Protests.
“In Cross River State, we saw the good concern from the youth as a wake up call for service, development and protection of basic tenets of Democracy.
“Despite our collective challenges as a nation, the country remains a strong entity, full of opportunities, especially for the teaming educated youth of the nation. To enhance the country’s cohesion, unity and Integration, a pragmatic vision of the National Youth Service Corps scheme (NYSC) came into existence 47 years ago. The youth force of a nation is key to development of a progressive Country.
“More over, answering the clarion call by taking your Oath of allegiance is to demonstrate the hope of our great country Nigeria and a great achievement of an enlighten society, full of opportunities with free mobility and freedom.
“With the recent vandalization of the Cross River State Capital by hoodlums acclaimed to be Angry youth population, it is obvious that the state is being dragged back to the (3 “R”s) of post civil war where Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction became the focal agenda of government.
“While we consider the NYSC as a stabilizing force, more need to be done to provide the much needed reorientation of the idle and vulnerable youth who themselves are being hijacked by drugs and other health damaging narcotics.
“On our part, government will painstakingly approach the reconstruction effort while at the same time, discourage criminality in whatever guise they may appear.
The destruction of the NYSC state Secretariat and other government establishment is the darkest experience of this administration.
“We have Recieved a comprehensive report on the extent of the damages and would appropriately intervene to put enemies of Cross River state to shame.
We will ensure that adequate provisions are made for a takeoff of a new office, considering the essential services the scheme is rendering all communities in the state irrespective of how remote they may be.
“Generally, I salute the NYSC management for putting in place standard Covid-19 protocols for this orientation exercise. We appreciate the professional approach of the National Centre for Disease control NCDC since the the coming of COVID 19 Pandemic. You will recall, that Cross River State state was the number one state that pioneered the use of protective approach in taming Covid19 and making the state less vulnerable at a time many states were locked down.
“Finally, there is coordinated efforts towards providing a safer environment for all residents in Cross River State, and to secure properties against harm.
Once again, i sincerely welcome you to the most hospitable state in the south south region. On this note, i declare the 2020 Batch B stream 1A Orientation Course open”
Earlier, the Commissioner for Youth and Skills Development who doubles as the the Chairman, NYSC Governing Council, Hon. Signor Omang Idiege noted that “Cross River State is a leading hospitality hub in the West African Sub Region, hosting the largest street party in Africa. Thus, the Cultural boost Under the digital Governor of Cross River state has gone far in retooling African Cultural heritage for which the National Youth Service Corps stands to build.
“Gentlemen Corps Members, I urge you to be guided by lofty objectives of the scheme, especially eliminating ignorance and confirming at first hand, the many similarities among the various ethnic groups you will soon meet during the cause of your service. Whereas, the rest of the world respects the international heights we have attained over the years, recent negative events ignited by hoodlums during the ENDSARS protest have encroached into both state, federal and private properties, including the National Youth Service Corps. While on inspection of the damaged NYSC Secretariat as directed by the Governor, we realized that the level of havoc meted on the Secretariat was monumental.
“The post Covid-19 service year is one that requires vigor and speed, if we are to cover the vacuum already left behind by your predecessors.
On his part, the NYSC State Coordinator Alhaji Nakanda, thanked the Almighty Allah for restoring NYSC Orientation programme after the devastating period occasioned by the COVID-19 nationwide, and acknowledged the role played by the NCDC National Centre for Disease Control and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 for their diligence and commitment, which paved way for reopening of NYSC Orientation Camps by the Federal Government.
The number one corps member in the state stated that ” the three weeks Orientation Course is structured to prepare Corps Members for the compulsory one year National Service. Corps members will be exposed to Drills, Man O’ War agility and __ training, lectures on security, teachings, as well as on camp skills acquisition and enterprenuship training programmes to equip them with requisite capacity not only delivering service to Cross River State, but to also boost their human resource value. Corps Members will also be exposed to socials etc.
“Your Excellency Sir, our commitment to providing auxiliary manpower to the state through consist provision of teachers, Medical personnel and other graduates needed by the State remain a top priority. However, we can best achieve these by ensuring that the orientation course environment is made very conducive for us to achieve desired results.
“I want to appreciate the effort of the state government in maintaining the orientation camp since inception and to also inform His Excellency, that much needs to be done in the areas of infrastructural expansion, Erosion control and mending of the perimeter fence to mitigate the porous state of the Camp. This will help observe the COVID-19 protocol according to the directives by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control NCDC.
“Your Excellency Sir, the recent wave of (END SARS) protests hijacked by hoodlums in Cross River State has grounded the operational Headquarters of the NYSC in Cross River State. All working tools were either looted or vandalized, including two Hilux Vans and one Ambulance. It will interest His Excellency to know that all the utility vehicles in this Camp are either hired or given as assistance by Sister Organisations.
“While we assure your Excellency of the Scheme’s readiness to key into your lofty development efforts, the renovation of the NYSC Secretariat will help settle the incoming set of Corps Members to key into the industrialization drive of the Government”
Highlight of the event was administration of Oath of allegiance on the Corps Members, and Martial Arts by Corps Members.
