From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt
Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have been charged to be productive by acquiring a skill, so that they can contribute their quota meaningfully in revamping the country’s economy.
The Coordinator, NYSC, Rivers State, Mr. George Mfongang, gave the charge on Tuesday, during the Skill Acquisition Closing Ceremony/Exhibition for 2023 Batch C Stream 2 Orientation exercise for Corps members deployed to Rivers State.
Mr. Mfongang noted that Nigeria will compete favourably with the so-called ‘Asian Tigers’ and strong economies of the world when citizens, especially, the educated graduate youths and leaders of tomorrow embrace wholeheartedly, the passion to acquire skill.
The Rivers State NYSC Team Lead also used the occasion to enjoin Corps members not to relent from pursuing their dream to acquire a skill, but to continue with their chosen skill and perfect on it during the course of their service year in their places of primary assignment.
Speaking further, Mr. Mfongang assured the Corps members of the availability of funding institutions such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Access Bank, WEMA Bank among others, who are the scheme’s partners in giving out grants to Corps members to start up their business.
In her welcome remark, the Head of Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme for the orientation exercise, Mrs. Efeke Murna Dadaza, congratulated the Corps members for their uncommon passion, willingness and enthusiasm in learning their chosen skill set throughout the 10-day training.
She thanked the State Coordinator, Mr. Mfongang and all camp officials, especially security agencies and the SAED facilitators for coming through for the Skill Acquisition committee which made their job smooth and successful.
In a goodwill message, the SAED monitor from NYSC National Directorate Headquarters, Abuja, Mrs. Arit Ata, encouraged the Corps members to sustain the tempo with which they set out to a acquire a skill in camp and become job and wealth creators.
The closing ceremony featured inter-platoon SAED competition in which 10 platoon emerged overall best by taking the first position.