Micheal Onwuka, Enugu
No fewer than 1, 610 corps members were on Wednesday sworn-in for the 2022 Batch ‘A’, Stream 11 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Course in Enugu.
The figure is made up of 863 males and 747 females.
The Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Ray Ozoemena, who performed the swearing-in ceremony, urged the corps members to make the best use of their service year.
Ozoemena, who was represented by Justice Reuben Onuoha of the state high court, also urged them to be courageous and work with the spirit of oneness.
The chief judge said that the future was full of opportunities which would start during the service year.
Also, the Director General, NYSC, Maj.-Gen. S. Ibrahim, appealed to the corps members to take advantage of the scheme’s Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme to further empower themselves.
Ibrahim, who was represented by the Coordinator of the NYSC in the state, Mr Sam Ujogu, said that the corps members were expected to choose from any of the skill areas.
He also urged them to always present themselves for the SAED lessons in the course of the orientation course.
He said that the youth service year would afford the corps members the opportunity to have a better understanding of the various cultures of the country.
He said that the NYSC management was making efforts to strengthen the scheme through a ‘Bill for the Establishment of the NYSC Trust Fund’ pending in the House of Representatives.
He commended the various stakeholders for their show of support for the proposed trust fund and appealed for the necessary enablement for the actualisation of the fund.
“This will, surely, enhance the smooth operation of the scheme, especially, by addressing the challenges of infrastructure.
“It will also boost our skills and entrepreneurship development programme aimed at empowering corps members for self-employment and wealth creation,” he said.
He also appealed for the support of relevant stakeholders for the success of the scheme’s Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD).
Ibrahim said that the HIRD was aimed at providing easier access to free and qualitative healthcare, especially, for the rural poor.
The highlights of the event were the inauguration of COVID-19 Vanguard and Corps Camp Directors.
