By Abiodun Esan
Yikpata (Kwara) – A total of 2,100 Corps members deployed to Kwara on Thursday took oath of allegiance during the 2020 Batch ‘A’ Orientation Course at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area of the state.
The state NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs Francisca Olaleye, disclosed this at the opening of the orientation course.
According to Olaleye, at the close of registration, 2,100 were registered made up of 995 males and 1,105 females.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Akanbi Gegele, who represented the Chief Judge of the state, administered the oath on the corps members.
“I wish to congratulate these young Nigerians, who, despite all hurdles were able to scale through the academic ladders and get mobilised for the national service.
“I urge my dear corps members to obey all camp rules and respect all constituted authority both within and outside the camp,” the coordinator charged.
Olaleye commended Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for all he has done to make the orientation camp habitable and fit for the corps members.
“Within the space of nine months in office, His Excellency has visited this orientation camp twice on working visits, donated some relief materials to the camp and graciously renovated three male hostels.
“These three hostels have gone a long way to boost the accommodation capacity on the camp and make lives more conducive for corps members during their orientation course,” he added.
The state coordinator also commended other collaborating agencies and stakeholders for the support the scheme is enjoying from them.
Olaleye, who said she was recently posted to Kwara to head the NYSC state secretariat, declared that she came to the state with great vision of improving on the legacies left behind by her predecessors.
“To this end, I wish to humbly solicit the support from the government and the good people of Kwara state and other stakeholders in order to move the NYSC scheme in the state to the next level,” she said.
The coordinator therefore appealed to the governor to come to the aid of the scheme in constructing perimeter fence round the orientation camp to secure the camp from vandals and thieves.
“Also, the state secretariat is in dire need of utility vehicle that will assist in running orientation courses and the inspection of corps members in all areas of the state.
“I wish to appeal to the State Government for the payment of monthly allowance to corps members, especially those serving in the public schools,” Olaleye said.
According to the state coordinator, payment of monthly allowance to corps members would motivate the corps members in giving their best at their various places of primary assignments.
Declaring open the orientation course, AbdulRazaq admonished the corps members to shun all forms of social vices during the three-week course.
The governor, represented by his Special Adviser on Investment, Alhaji Kabir Shagaya, said his government would continue to support NYSC in the state to achieve its objectives.
(NAN)