By Suleiman Yakubu

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State has called on security agencies to ensure that corps members posted to the state are kept safe at all times in all parts of the state.
He gave the directives when he declared open the 2023 Batch B, Stream 1, corps members posted to the state and those dislodged from FCT at the orientation camp in Paiko Local Government Area of the state.
Bago, represented by his deputy, Mr. Yakubu Garba, urged the corps members to use their energy, vigour, and enthusiasm to partake in issues of national cohesion and nation-building as vanguards of society.
"I urge you to embrace determination, hard work, and sincerity of purpose, which are the major hallmarks of success in life.
"Take all camp activities with the seriousness that they deserve." You should live up to the challenging activities in the orientation camp," he said.
He advised them as youths with the potential to lead the nation to greater heights, urging them to shun all acts capable of undermining the peace and security of the nation. In her address, Mrs. Abdulwahab Alidat, NYSC Coordinator in Niger, noted that 1,100 corps members had been registered, including those dislodged from the FCT.
She enjoined the corps members to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the NYSC Act and bye-laws during their service year.
Alidat advised them to be security conscious at all times and report suspicious characters or activities around them to the appropriate authority.
She urged the corps members to avail themselves of the opportunity to participate in the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme by choosing from any of the skill areas.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Halima Abdulmalik, Chief Judge of the state, who was represented by Maryam Ismaila, administered the oath of office to the corps members.
NAN reports that the governor was accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, the Chief of Staff, Abdullahi Gbatamangi, and the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Gov., Mr. Bello Ibrahim.

By Suleiman Yakubu

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State has said that his administration has declared free education for every child at the basic level and will ensure that the standard of education at public schools in the state competes with elite private schools anywhere in Nigeria.
The governor, who stated this at the graduation ceremony of El-Amin International School, Abuja, where his son, Marwan Umaru Bago, was graduating, challenged public schools in the state to step up to standard.
He said his administration will support every child in the state to achieve their lofty dreams, stressing that the son of nobody can become somebody with the right investment in education.
The governor disclosed that his government will invest in school infrastructure, learning equipment, and the recruitment of good teachers so that "in the future, just like us, the son of nobody can become somebody", he said.
Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago said it was the dream of every child to aspire to become what they want to be in life and further pledged that his administration will support such lofty dreams irrespective of one's social and economic background.
He expressed admiration for the kind of quality education being offered at the El Amin International School while commending the management and staff for sacrificing everything to raise others to become worthy citizens of Nigeria.
He said he was happy that his son and others were graduating and stepping into another level of education, advising the pupils to work hard and keep their hopes in Nigeria alive, expressing confidence that the country will overcome its challenges.
Marwan Umar Bago, who spoke on behalf of others, thanked their parents for the support and encouragement.
He also expressed the gratitude of the students to the principal of the school, teachers, and management for imparting the necessary knowledge on them.