Niger State Governor, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, has declared the 2023 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation course for Batch B, stream 1 Corps members posted to Niger State open, urging the Corps members to embrace entrepreneurship training.
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba, made this declaration at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Paiko on Friday.
He observed that the government cannot absorb all graduates, and as such, corps members should utilise the opportunity of the entrepreneurship training provided to them by the NYSC Scheme while in the camp.
The governor reminded the corps members that their call for national service required them to stay in camp for a specified number of weeks to undertake regimented activities, stressing that it was a must for them to obey the rules and regulations guiding their activities in the camp.
He also informed the Corps members that the NYSC Scheme, being an instrument of national unity and integration, had over the years continued to forge socio-cultural ties across different ethno-cultural divides in Nigeria.
"The NYSC Scheme has been able to sustain its mandate of mobilising Nigerian youths and instilling in them the tradition of dedication and regard for our collective differences, and you cannot be an exception, especially as the scheme prepares to celebrate its golden jubilee this year.
"Let me quickly add that your service year is coming at a time when the nation needs your dexterity as the vanguard of society. You should use your energy, vigour, and enthusiasm to fully partake in issues of national cohesion and nation-building. As youth citizens, you should see yourselves as progressives with the potential to lead this nation to greater heights," said the Governor.
While welcoming the corps members to Niger State, the governor also urged them to shun all acts capable of undermining the peace and security of the nation, calling on all security agencies in the state to ensure that corps members were preferentially kept safe at all times and in all parts of Niger State.
In her address, the state Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs. Alidat Abdulwahab Olayinka, disclosed that the scheme aimed at promoting unity among the diverse cultures in Nigeria for a great and prosperous country.
She also appreciated the state government, the traditional rulers, the security agencies, and the Paiko community for the security and hospitality they extended to the corps members during every orientation period.
The 2023 Batch B stream 1 has a total of 2100 corps members, comprising those posted to Niger State and the ones dislodged from Abuja. The Oath of allegiance was administered to the corps members by the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Halima Abdulmalik, who was represented by Justice Maria Isma'il.
The Deputy Governor was accompanied to the orientation camp in Paiko by the Secretary to the State Government, who is also the Chairman of the state NYSC governing board, Alh. Abubakar Usman Gawu; the Chief of Staff to the Governor of the State, Hon. Abdullahi Usman Gbatamangi; the Deputy Chief of Staff, Deputy Governor's Office, Mallam Bello Ibrahim; and other top government officials.