Kogi State Government has urged Corps Members deployed to the State to leave indelible footprints of development in different sectors as agents of social change.
It said the present administration would reward any Corps Member that shows outstanding performance in his place of primary assignment.
The State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ododo stated this on Wednesday in his address at the Closing Ceremony of the 2024 Batch ‘A’ Stream One Orientation Course held at NYSC Kogi State Orientation Camp, Asaya, Kabba.
“Be rest assured that excellent performances would be duly recognized and rewarded at the end of the service year by our administration.
“I also want to assure you that we would provide adequate security and welfare for you”, the Governor said.
He urged the Corps Members to comply with the custom and traditions of their host communities.
Ododo also advised them to avoid hate speeches and other tendencies capable of promoting unrest within the State and beyond.
Speaking further, he counseled the Corps Members to use the trainings they received in camp to re-orientate themselves for the tasks ahead, even beyond their period of national service.
He commended them for the high level of discipline, comportment and maturity they displayed during the 21days Orientation period.
The Governor, who was represented at the ceremony by his deputy, Comrade Salisu Oyibo charged the Corps Members to utilize the entrepreneurship skills they learnt in camp to become employers of labour.
He implored them to leave good legacies in Kogi State “in the areas of healthcare, campaign on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, healthcare delivery, sustainable development goals, agriculture, education, rural development among others”.
He appealed to Corps Employers in the State to provide the necessary welfare and conducive environment for the Corps Members, saying this would encourage them to contribute immensely to the development of the State.
In her address, the NYSC Kogi State Coordinator, Mrs Mofoluwaso Williams said the Corps Members have been exposed to para-military drills, skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development training, citizenship and leadership trainings as well as inspirational lectures on self actualization and development.
She advised the Corps Members to proceed to their places of Primary Assignment and translate the knowledge acquired in their institutions of higher learning and the trainings received while in camp to improve the lives of the people in their host communities.
The Coordinator advised them to obey all the NYSC rules and regulations as they were told in camp, adding that erring Corps Members would be punished as spelt out in the NYSC bye laws.
“You are advised to accept your postings in good faith as any Corps Member who induce rejection would be punished in line with the NYSC bye laws, and any employer who collude with them would be blacklisted.
I urge all Corps Employers in Kogi State to accept Corps Members posted to them and give them good welfare packages.
“If you have genuine reason to travel, you must obtain permission through the proper channel”, Williams added.
While speaking to the press after the programme, the Director General of National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General YD Ahmed urged the Corps Members to serve as good ambassadors of their schools, families and NYSC.
He added that adequate security has been provided for their safety throughout the service year.
