By Miriam Humbe
The Director General of National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu joined Corps Members to celebrate their birthdays which coincided with their swearing-in ceremony at the NYSC FCT Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja.
Caroline Embu, NYSC’s Acting Director, Information and Public Relations disclosed this in a statement signed on Friday.
The celebrants are; Onoja Dorcas FC/25A/1642, Enugu Judith FC/25A/1299, Egba Kingsley Nnamdi FC/25A/1140, Achunmwande Brandy FC/25A/2507, Boluwatife Oladapo Ogedengbe FC/25A/1088, Kwayama D. Sharon FC/25A/3461 and Agbo Ojobo Ambrose FC/25A/1338.
General Nafiu, who was also part of the dignitaries that witnessed the swearing-in ceremony of the 4,070 Corps Members deployed to the FCT encouraged them to serve their fatherland diligently.
He urged them to quickly adjust to camp life and participate actively in all the Orientation activities that would empower them for a successful service year.
“As you proceed on the three weeks Orientation journey, l want you to make discipline your watch word and also make friends across the geo-political zones of the country”, he said.
The NYSC FCT Coordinator, Mr Samson Ateli in his introductory address welcomed the Corps Members who answered the clarion call of selfless services to their fatherland.
He added that the Scheme has successfully maintained its pivotal role in inducing national unity, socio-economic development, job empowerment for Corps Members, while also building socio-cultural bridges across different regions of the country.
He applauded the FCT administration for the continuous support being rendered the NYSC and also for providing the enabling environment to host the Orientation Course.
“The NYSC is indeed grateful for the extensive reconstruction and renovation work on-going at the Orientation Camp”, he said.
While declaring the Orientation Camp opened, the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud said the one year National service is a remarkable turning point in the lives of many youths who have had the privilege of participating in the Scheme since inception.
The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Youth and Sports Development Secretariat, Mrs Nancy Sebastian Nathan advised the Corps Members to distance themselves from social vices such as cultism, cybercrimes and drug abuse.
“You are advised to be security conscious at all times, be law-abiding and see yourselves as agents of positive change to sensitize our people towards national re-orientation and rebranding”, she added.
The FCT Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf, represented by Hon Justice Suleiman B. Belgore administered the Oath of Allegiance on the 1,798 males and 2,272 female Corps Members.