Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) on Tuesday swore in 1,472 corps members of the 2024 Batch ‘B’ Stream 1 set, deployed to Enugu State for the one-year mandatory national service.
The Enugu State Coordinator, NYSC, Mrs Christiana Salmwang, gave the number during the swearing-in ceremony at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Awgu Local Government Area, Enugu.
Salmwang added that the number comprised 667 males and 805 females corps members.
She urged the corps members to approach the orientation task with the highest degree of fervor, patriotism, selfless service and humility.
She added that the orientation programme was rare opportunity for self development and actualization as well as contribution to national development on the platform of the NYSC scheme.
The coordinator said that proactive steps had been taken by the NYSC to prevent any possible spread of cholera.
“It is pertinent to remind the corps members and the camp community that there is an outbreak of cholera in the country, NYSC as a pragmatic organisation has taken proactive steps to prevent any possible spread of the disease.
“We have stationed wash hand basins all over the camp for regular hand washing of members of camp communities and visitors.
“Similarly, we have been engaging camp market operators to observe the highest level of hygiene in their preparation of meals for the corps members,” Salmwang said.
She thanked Gov. Peter Mbah for reconnecting the camp to the national grid as the corps members now enjoy electricity power supply in their orientation camp.
Declaring the three weeks orientation programme open, Gov. Peter Mbah represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Ifeanyi Ossai, said that the purpose of the NYSC scheme was to break the barriers that separate the people.
Mbah charged the corps members to be disciplined at all time so as to be successful in life.
According to him, a society that does not respect her own rules and has no values to look up to that people respect and treasure, that society must always experience draw backs and these draw backs can affect life, family and carrier.
“So, discipline should be one of the core values you must take with you from your orientation and service year,” he said.
Ossai, who spoke on behalf of the governor promised that Mbah’s administration would fix the road leading to the orientation camp as well as construct a field in the camp for the corps members.
Similarly, while administering the oath of allegiance, the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Raymond Ozoemena represented by Justice Anthony Onovo also urged the corps members to be disciplined in order to be successful in life.
“Discipline is the bedrock of the society and life, without discipline you cannot achieve anything in your behavior, in your relationship with one another and in your finances, you have to maintain discipline in order to continue to live.
“In the camp without discipline there will be disorderliness, so let discipline be part of you,” he urged.