By Charles Ogbonnaya
The Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has reaffirmed his administration’s readiness to provide the needed conducive atmosphere for National Youth Service Corp, NYSC Corps members to serve, in addition to rewarding all outstanding members of the corps.
In his speech at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Umunna, Bende L.G.A of the state, during the swearing in ceremony of the year 2020 batch ‘B’ stream lA corps members (about 689), Gov. Ikpeazu represented by the State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Chief Emeka Ikwuagwu pointed out that his led administration had recently offered automatic employment to two ex-corps members and rewarded five (5) 2019 batch ‘B’ and ‘C’ Corps members for their various contributions to the development of the state.
His words, “Abia State is noted for her industry and entrepreneurial spirit, I urge you to pay undivided attention to the skills acquisition and entrepreneurial programme that will be introduced to you during this orientation course. The acquisition of these skills will go a long way in shaping your future and give you access to getting soft loans for the establishment of your own business”.
Gov. Ikpeazu who commended the NYSC for their proactive effort in making sure that the dreaded COVID-19 does not find its way into the camps, urged the corps members to strictly adhere to all the Coronavirus protocols as has been put in place by National Center for Disease Control, NCDC.
In his address also, Mr. Friday Ikpoha, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, who represented the Chairman NYSC State Governing Board, informed the corps members that Gov. Ikpeazu’s government places high premium on hard work and excellence as well as rewarding and recognizing corps members who contributed immensely in the development of the state through initiating and executing meaningful community projects.
He urged them to go all out to render those invaluable selfless humanitarian service to their host communities where they will be posted after the orientation programme.
Earlier in her welcome address, Lady Bona Adibeli Fasakin, NYSC Abia State coordinator lauded Governor Ikpeazu and wife, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu for rehabilitating five of the hostels; part of the roof of the multipurpose hall and the roof of the big pavilion in the camp.
“However, like Oliver Twist, I will not forget to plead for your urgent intervention in the control of erosion menace in this camp. The situation now is getting out of hand. So far from our internally generated fund, we were able to do just a little check on the erosion down the Ochendo hostel in front of us, but that palliative measure has proved not good enough because of the intensity of water flow in this camp”, she passionately pleaded.
The Abia State NYSC coordinator assured the corps members’ parents and guardian and indeed all Abians of the readiness of the NYSC to ensure a COVID-19 hitch free orientation course in the state, through strict observance of the necessary safety protocols.
