by Rachel Ogbu

The Kano State co-ordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Alhaji Bashir Yakassai, announced that 800 out of the 2,129 posted to the state for this year’s National Youth Service programme were redeployed to other states following the recent attacks from sects.

Speaking at the passing out parade of Batch ‘C’ of the corps members, Yakassai  said that no corps members would be posted to banks or companies they perceive to be lucrative, instead, they would be posted to rural areas where their services are mostly required, especially in agriculture, health care and education sectors, while the married corps members would serve in the state capital.

“As at today, about 700 corps members have been redeployed out of 2,129 posted to the state. The doors are still open to whoever wishes to be redeployed for one reason or the other, in accordance with the NYSC guidelines,” he said.

Some corps members at the event allegedly said though they would love to serve in Kano State but the insecurity in the state has left them with  no option than to seek redeployment.

Also concerned about the security situation for the corps members, the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji  Abdulfatah Ahmed, Tuesday charged traditional rulers and security agencies in the state to protect the lives and property of corps members serving in Kwara.

He said the government had concrete measures in place to provide the members with security in all parts of the state. He assured the corps members that his administration would create the enabling environment for them to apply the skills and expertise acquired during the orientation exercise.

ThisDay reports:

Earlier, the state Coordinator of the NYSC, Ngozi Ezekwe, advised the corps members to be security conscious, asking them to avoid travelling without permission, dressing decently and not to live or move alone.

Ezekwe said that the management of the NYSC had resolved to reinvigorate the Community Development Service (CDS) programme and charged the corps members to get involved in more creative, challenging and concrete development projects aimed at nation building in communities they would be serving.

She added: “Reflect on all you have been taught on skills acquisition and work towards being employers of labour rather than being job seekers right from now.”

In the same vein, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, charged corps members in her state to work in tandem with the main objective of the programme aimed at fostering national unity.

She gave the charge at the closing ceremony of the Batch ‘C’ orientation course held at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp at Ise/Orun/Emure Ekiti.

The deputy governor further pointed out that in addition to the NYSC scheme as being a veritable tool to achieving the quest for national unity, government at all levels has since viewed the programme as a proper avenue for building the moral of Nigerian youths by giving them the opportunity to learn about the higher ideals of national achievements.

She enjoined the corps members to use the skills they have acquired through the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurial Trainings to improve their financial status and become independent, as well impart this to their host communities by teaching them to be self-reliant, thereby reducing unemployment in the country.

Olayinka also assured them of having a good time serving in the state, stating that Ekiti is very peaceful and its people loving and friendly, provided they (corps members) stayed away from societal vices.

Also, the Chairman, NYSC State Governing Board and Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Chief Folorunso Olabode, described the NYSC scheme as a major programme that affords the youth the opportunity to express themselves and to participate in the development of the nation.

The Ekiti State NYSC Coordinator, Baba-Ahmed Nurudeen Tunde, disclosed that 2,248 corps members had successfully participated in the 2012 Batch ‘C’ orientation course and that the participants had exhibited a great sense of maturity, discipline and great adaptability to camp life.

He expressed satisfaction that the three-week orientation programme had equipped the corps members mentally and physically, to enable them face the challenges of the service year.  He added that the practical training in skills acquisition were additional advantages that will make the service year more rewarding.