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| Cross River State Commissioner for Youth Development and Skills Acquisition, Hon. Signor Omang Idiege addressing Corp members yesterday in Obubra |
AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF CROSS RIVER STATE, SENATOR PROFESSOR BEN AYADE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 2020 BATCH aA STREAM I ORIENTATION PROGRAMME HELD AT THE NYSC PERMANENT ORIENTATION CAMP OBUBRA ON THURSDAY, 12TH MARCH, 2020
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I am pleased to welcome another set of promising young men and women deployed to Cross River State for NYSC 2020 Batch ‘A’ (Stream II) service year. I also welcome you all to the Swearing-in ceremony for this group of patriotic Nigerians.
Let me also congratulate you on the successful completion of your academic endeavors and your patriotic commitment in responding to the call for National service.
Your answer to the call to serve your country is a worthy acknowledgement of your dedication, commitment to hard work, and obedience to constituted authority as National service through the NYSC is enshrined in the constitution of our Nation Nigeria. I welcome you all to the larger Nigerian society where you will gradually begin to make your individual and collective contributions toward national growth and development.
Cross River State has enjoyed and encouraged a very healthy relationship with the NYSC for many years and ours is a Government with a passion for youth development as we believe in the potentials of our youth to make the needed essential change that our country is desperate for.
This Government has also committed itself to empowering our youths with responsibilities and resources to make them independent, self-reliant and productive members of society.
Our efforts in Tourism, Agriculture, Mining, Industry, Hospitality and other areas are aimed at making Cross River State not only the ‘Destination of Choice’ but the most desired in the committee of States in Nigeria.
Even in the face of dwindling resources and a recession that has limited our desire to do more for the NYSC, we consider the scheme a major partner in our developmental efforts. The presence of corps members in almost every facet of life in the State is a proof that the National Youth Service Corps remains essential and relevant in our society today. You should therefor consider yourselves very lucky and privileged to have been deployed to undertake your National Service in Cross River.
For more than four decades now, the NYSC has remained a beacon of hope in the country’s mission for a united nation. It has exposed millions of youths to the cultures and traditions of our pluralistic society, while imparting skills and experiences to enhance those you have acquired in your various higher institutions.
The need to acquaint you all with the tenets of the scheme is almost as important as familiarizing you with the cultures and tradition of the people of the State. As such, I urge you to imbibe the true spirit of this Orientation course paying specific attention to all to all the programmes lined up for your orientation training.
The State Government will continue to collaborate with the NYSC in the State to ensure that we expand your interest in skills acquisition. You are therefore to pay specific attention to all the skills that you will be exposed to within the three weeks of the orientation training. What you will learn in the skill acquisition will greatly empower you to create wealth now when you are young and make you entrepreneurs and possible employers of labour in the future. I also urge you to bring the good values your parents must have imbued in you to the service year and see the communities you would be servicing as extensions of your homes.
This Government will continue to support and encourage Corps members by fulfilling its statutory obligations to the Scheme and providing a peaceful atmosphere for optimal performance of Corps members within available resources.
Government is well aware of the state of the orientation camp and have been given further impetus to consider a holistic approach to upgrading the camp to one of the best in Nigeria. This to us a Government is a matter of pride considering the reputation of Cross River State.
We also remain firm in our resolve to assist the Management of the scheme in the State in several ways towards ensuring that the State Continues to benefit from the NYSC.
Finally, I wish to commend the camp officials especially the State Coordinator for bringing the camp to enviable standard. Same goes to the good people of Obubra for giving the NYSC family a conducive environment to always conduct the orientation programme all the time.
Once more I say welcome my dear corps members to Cross River State and God bless you all.
Thank you.
12th March 2020
