Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has inaugurated facilities worth over N100 million built for corps members by Ihe community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The facilities are meant to boost the corps members’ contributions towards improving the standard of education in the area.
The facilities include`Corpers Lodge,’ which is located inside Community Secondary School, Ihe, as well as the renovated secondary school.
They also include eight modern toilets, two boreholes with electrical and solar power supply, DSTV installation, solar light to complement electricity and a big generator.
They were provided in collaboration with the Old Boys of the school, as part of the Community Development project.
The chairman of the event, Prof. Martin Anikwe, said the lodge was also part of the efforts by the community to achieve parts of sustainable education component of UN Sustainable Development Goals.
He said members of the community decided to construct the Lodge to ensure that corps member posted to the community did not reject their posting.
“Some people from the community and the old boys came together to renovate and build the lodge to make sure we get quality education.
“We discovered that engaging corps members will be an instrument in improving the standard of education in our community.
“With the projects, students from our community whether rich or poor, can attain their goals in life,” Anikwe said.
The NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs Christiana Salmwang, lauded the community for its magnanimity in building a befitting lodge for corps members serving in the secondary school and the nearby communities.
“I am delighted to be here today, to show my most sincere appreciation to the leaders of thought, the Igwe and good people of the community.
“As we know, accommodation for corps members is very vital to their settling down and giving their very best in their places of primary assignment,” she said.
Also speaking, Emmanuel Nweke, the Chairman, Committee Project Development Fund of the secondary school, said the lodge is one of the numerous projects the group built in the school.
He commended Dr Madueke Ekoh, a member of the community for donating more than 70 per cent of the money used in the project.
“We spent over N100 million to actualise the entire project in the school.
A corps member, John Issuma, described the lodge as ‘unexpected gift.’
“I regretted when I was posted to this village but seeing this lodge, I am happy because some of my colleagues out there have no accommodation,” he said.
