Owerri – The Imo State Government has advised NYSC members serving in the state to assist it’s efforts to diversify the economy of the state through agriculture.
Gov. Rochas Okorocha gave the advice at the official closing ceremony of the orientation course for the 2017 Batch ‘B’ stream 1 corps members deplored to Imo on Monday at Eziama Obaire, Nkwerre Local Government area.
Okorocha was represented by the state Commissioner for Youths Development, Mr Ifeanyichukwu Onwueyiagba.
He said that excessive reliance on oil as the mainstream of the nation’s economy could no longer stand the test of time.
He said that the drop in oil price had dwindled the fortunes of the global economy with disastrous effects on developing nations.
The governor said a new focus on agriculture would be the in-thing all over the world, adding that residents in the state could no longer fold their arms to allow hunger and starvation to hold them to ransom.
“I, therefore, charge you to focus your attention on agriculture and to assist your host communities by executing projects that have direct bearing on their needs and aspiration,” he said.
Okorocha also advised the corps members to avoid unnecessary and unauthorised travels during their service year and to practise all that they were taught at the orientation camp.
He also implored them to be part of the state’s forth coming Christmas carnival being packaged by his government.
Okorocha commended all the institutions, organizations, security agencies and individuals which contributed to the success of the NYSC orientation course.
Earlier in her address, the state NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Josephine Bakare, had said that a total of 1,555 corps members were deployed to the state during the service period.
She advised the corps members to be good role models to the youths who would be looking up to them and also to be good ambassadors of the scheme.
Bakare said that the scheme valued productivity and would reward those who distinguished themselves during the service year.
She said those who would run contrary to the scheme’s rules and regulations would be punished in accordance with the bye-Lawal of the NYSC.
Bakare expressed gratitude to the state government for the numerous support to the scheme and prayed for the speedy completion of the on-going female hostels.
She thanked the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Uche Nwosu,for his immense assistance to the NYSC in the state and called for his continuous support. (NAN)