The Paramount Ruler of Uyo, Edidem Sylvanus Effiong Okon, with some Corps members.
By Dianabasi Effiong, Uyo
The Paramount Ruler of Uyo, Edidem Sylvanus Effiong Okon, has reassured Corps members posted to Akwa Ibom State of their safety.
Okon said this when the Akwa Ibom Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mr Sam Pepple, paid him a courtesy visit in his palace in Uyo.
The royal father said that the safety of lives and property of all corps members serving in the state remained the priority of all traditional rulers.
“The issue of safety of corps members is very important to us because they are our children.
“I have also discussed the issue of corps members’ safety with village heads in my domain.
“We planned to summon all traditional rulers to address the security concerns of Corps members in the State,” he said.
He called on corps members with any security challenge in their place of primary assignment to report immediately to the nearest village head and police station.
Earlier, the state coordinator, Pepple, had appealed to the paramount ruler to assign representatives from various clans to help to safeguard the corps members in their respective communities.
Pepple also expressed his concerns about the increasing incidents of robbery affecting corps members in certain communities in the state.
He also gave an overview of the NYSC scheme’s structure and operations, emphasising the scheme’s relevance to the community.
Pepple also assured the royal father that the newly posted corps members would, henceforth, be introduced to the village heads upon arrival to ensure better security arrangements.
He thanked the traditional ruler for the warm reception accorded him and his entourage.
The high point of the event was an exchange of gifts and the signing of the visitor’s register by the state coordinator.
