Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has urged corps members to avail themselves of the opportunity to get trained in different skills during their service year in order to prevent joblessness.
Makinde stated this during the opening of the 2023 Batch C, Stream II Orientation Course for corps members deployed to the state, at Iseyin on Tuesday.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Wasilat Adegoke, urged the corps members to take up the challenges of service year with the right mindset, hard work and commitment in their desire for national development.
“As youths, you must remember that you have to work assiduously for national interest and should not take your responsibilities for granted.
“Take every challenge you face as an opportunity for another chance to prove your worth as a person that graduated from a reputable higher institution in both character and learning.
“On the alarming rate of unemployment among the graduate youth, I will not forget to harp on one of the major components of the orientation course, the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Program.
“The program is targeted at reducing the perennial problem of youth unemployment in the country.
“I, therefore, implore you to enthusiastically avail yourself of the opportunity to get trained, at no cost to you, in different areas of skills and become immune to the scourge of joblessness at the end of your service year,” he said.
The NYSC Coordinator in the state, Mr Abel Odoba, encouraged the corps members to seize the unique opportunity of national service to learn about the culture of their host communities and their ways of life.
According to him, these will continuously promote unity and integration, which is the whole essence of the NYSC scheme.
“In the past 50 years, NYSC has been very impactful. From its inception, life-long friendship and bonds have been established and national awareness has increased.
“You are expected to contribute your quota to the unity and the development of this nation,” he said.
The occasion featured the administration of oath of allegiance on the 3,151 corps members by the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima.
