The Governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu, has urged corps members deployed to the state to prioritise the promotion of national unity and integration throughout their service year.
Addressing the 2024 Batch C Stream II corps members during their swearing-in ceremony on Friday at the Wamakko Permanent Orientation Camp, the governor, represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Eng. Mustapha Muhammad encouraged the new intakes to avoid social vices such as cultism, drug abuse, and misconduct.
Dr. Aliyu commended the corps members for their academic achievements, which earned them the opportunity to serve the nation.
“I applaud your dedication in responding to the call to serve our fatherland. Your patriotic spirit will surely leave a lasting mark in history,” he said.
The governor praised the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for its significant role in nurturing young Nigerians and aligning them with government policies. He noted that the scheme has been instrumental in advancing national development across various sectors.
“I extend a warm welcome to Sokoto State, the Seat of the Caliphate. Consider your deployment here as divinely orchestrated. The three-week orientation camp will demand discipline, strength, tolerance, and sacrifice, but these will serve as a foundation for your future success,” Aliyu remarked.
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Dr. Aliyu highlighted the NYSC’s pivotal role in uniting youths from different ethnic, religious, and academic backgrounds. He lauded the program for instilling values of hard work, patriotism, and industry, which have positively impacted community and national development.
“The importance of the NYSC in today’s Nigeria cannot be overstated. You have the responsibility to uphold and build upon its legacy in nation-building,” he added.
The governor also assured corps members of their safety, pledging his administration’s commitment to providing a secure and enabling environment. He called on security agencies and community leaders to support the corps members, aligning with his government’s agenda to foster peace and empower the youth for economic growth.
In his address, the NYSC State Coordinator, Alhaji Yakubu Yaro Usman, urged corps members to embrace the discipline of camp life, emphasizing that the orientation exercise would prepare them physically and mentally to contribute to national progress.
He encouraged them to participate in the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) program, highlighting its potential to equip them with skills for self-reliance.
“Many of your predecessors who embraced the SAED program are now thriving entrepreneurs and employers of labour,” Usman noted.
The state coordinator expressed appreciation to Governor Ahmed Aliyu and the Sultan of Sokoto, Dr. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, for their unwavering support of the NYSC scheme.
The event concluded with the Chief Judge of Sokoto State, Justice Muhammad Sa’aidu Sifawa, administering the oath of allegiance to the corps members.
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