By Miriam Humbe
Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu has warned Corps Members against exposing themselves to danger during their service year.
Caroline Embu, NYSC’s Acting Director Information and Public Relations disclosed this in a statement signed on Friday.
The NYSC DG gave the word of caution on Friday while addressing the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream I Corps Members at Niger State Orientation Camp, Paiko.
He said that NYSC had mapped out different strategies to ensure adequate security of all Corps Members throughout their service year.
General Nafiu, who urged the Corps members to obey all camp rules and regulations also reminded them that violators of the Scheme’s bye-laws would be sanctioned.
“Play your own part very well and you will have a smooth service year”, he said.
In her address, earlier in the day during the Swearing-in Ceremony, the NYSC Niger State Coordinator, Mrs, Martina Shuaibu-Ibrahim said the Scheme would instill the core principles and objectives of NYSC in the Corps Members during the Orientation period.
She added that the Corps Members would have access to a wide range of skill sets that would enable them develop entrepreneurial mindset and also build business networks.
“The Orientation Course marks the beginning of your journey as Members of the NYSC. The NYSC has made provisions for your intellectual and physical development through various lectures and physical drills”, she added.
While declaring the Orientation Exercise opened, Niger State Governor, Umar Muhammad Bago said the Scheme remained one of the strongest tools for national unity and development in the country, which had not failed in any of its set objectives over the past five decades.
He said further that NYSC had been able to sustain its mandate of mobilizing Nigerian graduate youths and instilling in them, noble qualities of commitment, patriotism, teamwork, integrity and tolerance.
The Governor also lauded Corps Members’ immense contributions to the development strides in all sectors of the economy in the country.
“As you fully resume camp activities, I urge you to be disciplined, bearing in mind that your service year is coming at a time when the country is faced with a myriad of challenges.
“It is therefore expected that you use your energy and enthusiasm to fully engage in matters of national interest and development.
“Always see yourselves as agents of change, armed with potentials to move this nation to enviable heights.
“On our part as Government, we will continue to provide enabling environment for the Scheme to thrive in the State”, he said.
Governor Bago, whose address was read at the ceremony by the Secretary to Niger State Government who is also the Chairman, NYSC Niger State Governing Board, Alhaji Abubakar Usman Gawu assured of his administration’s strong resolve to provide a befitting Orientation Camp for the comfort of Corps Members deployed to the State.
He called on the security agencies to partner with the government towards ensuring that the safety of Corps Members in Niger State is accorded top priority at all times.
Hon. Justice Mohammed Mohammed administered the Oath of Allegiance on the 1,025 Corps Members comprising 456 males and 569 females.
