The Sokoto State Government on Thursday donated 1,000 mattresses to corps members and pledged to rehabilitate facilities at the NYSC Permanent orientation camp.
Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State announced the donation and the pledge in a message to the swearing-in of 2017 Batch B Stream 1 Corps members deployed to the state.
The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba, said the NYSC scheme was aimed at promoting unity and understanding among Nigerians.
He urged the stakeholders to utilise the advantages of educating corps members on values, culture of diverse Nigerians, saying that such would prepare them for cordial relations, tolerance and patriotism.
Tambuwal said that the government was committed toward improving people’s quality of life, through economic empowerment and youth development at all levels in the state.
The state NYSC Coordinator, Alhaji Musa Abubakar, said 2,200 corps members were registered in the camp so far, adding that “registration continues as some Corps members are still reporting for the orientation exercise’’.
Abubakar said various physical, moral and educative trainings were lined up for the corps members for the one-year mandatory service aimed at moulding them to become productive in the society.
He said that the NYSC had been partnering with some agencies on 12 vocational and business training skills to impart entrepreneurship on corps members in order to be productive during and after the service.
Abubakar said that the Bank of Industry, Central Bank of Nigeria, Heritage Bank and poverty eradication agencies had been granting loans ranging from N1 million to N3 million to some corps members.
“During the immediate past service year, 10 corps members have established business outfits based on the training they received and are prepared to stay in Sokoto after the service year,’’ the coordinator said.
He said that 90 per cent of the corps members would be posted to schools to teach in order to promote the state government’s declaration of emergency on education sector.
Abubakar said that few, especially medical graduates, would go to the rural health centres.
The coordinator commended Zenith Bank for refurbishing the camp kitchen and transforming it from firewood to gas facility.
He also commended MTN for improving the network service and provision of chairs for lectures in the camp.
Abubakar intimated the corps members on awards for outstanding performance as well as commendation for efficient service in their places of primary assignments.
“We are hopeful that some corps members from the state will get Presidential awards while others will be sanctioned for absconding from their places of primary assignments, ‘’ the coordinator said. (NAN)
