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.
This is even as the scheme passionately appealed to the Abia State Government to intervene urgently to control the erosion menace in the camp, crying out that the situation was getting out of hand.
In his speech on Monday 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 said his 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.
Ikpeazu said, “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”.
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.
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.
Lady Fasakin maintained that the safety of the Corps members remained paramount to the NYSC while assuring NYSC members’ parents and guardians of safety of their wards during the orientation course period.
Nnaji recalled that Governor Ugwuanyi, a few months ago, paid an unscheduled visit to the General Hospital Ogrute, to assess the state of the health facility which was founded in 1956.
He said that the governor, after inspecting the dilapidated facilities in the hospital, expressed dissatisfaction with what he saw on ground and directed the State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to commence the evaluation of the facility with a view to rehabilitating it to serve the public better. He also directed the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to restore power to the hospital.
