By Chris Njoku
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River has tasked newly sworn-in National Youth Service Corps, NYSC members in the state on laudable community development projects that would stand them out in their service year.
Otu, made the call on Tuesday, 23rd April, at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Obubura during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2024 Batch ‘A’ Stream II prospective corps members deployed to Cross River.
Represented by Mr Odum Ukam, Commissioner for Youth
Development, the governor assured the corps members of his commitment to ensure a conducive environment is created for them.
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According to him, “Your swearing-in and oath-taking marks the beginning of one year mandatory service to the nation.
“You are expected to use the period to contribute to the socio-economic development of the communities you will be posted to serve and the state in general.
“Therefore, I charge you to carry out laudable community development projects which would stand you out at the end of your service period,” he maintained.
He further advised the Corps Members to use the period to make personal sacrifices that will prepare them for the challenges of nation-building.
In his opening address, Mr Andrew Zemoh, the NYSC Coordinator for Cross River congratulated the corps members for the success they recorded at their various institutions of higher learning which qualified them to be mobilised for the one-year mandatory national service.
Zemoh said that the three weeks Orientation Course was structured to prepare them for the task ahead, adding that they would be exposed to drills and agility manoeuvres.
He said there would also be leadership training, lectures on security and teaching assignments, including Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) training Programme.
According to him, the programmes are aimed at preparing them both physically and mentally for post-orientation life in their various places of Primary Assignments.
He thanked the Government of Cross River for the various timely interventions carried out in the camp especially the recent ones at the multipurpose Hall and the collapsed part of the perimeter fence.
He, however, appealed to the Governor for renovation of the hostels to make the camp conducive for optimal use, and also provide another borehole to effectively address the current water challenges in the camp.
