Governor Adams Oshiomhole has urged youth corps members to see themselves as part of the nation’s security agents to help the country overcome her security challenges.
Speaking yesterday at the closing ceremony of the 2013 Batch A Corps members at Okada, the Governor said the youth corps members should have faith in the nation and refuse to be discouraged by the recent events in the country.
According to him, “at this point, far too many Nigerians are wondering if we have a country. Many have given up and it appears that criminals have taken over our land. I ask you to have faith and not to be discouraged by what is being done by some of our elders. You must refuse to be discouraged. There is no leadership anywhere in the world that has the capacity to provide what God has endowed Nigeria with.
“If we the elders have wasted our past, you must resolve that you will secure our future, if the present leadership does not know what to do, you must resolve to do the right thing. You must be interested in how our economy is managed. You must be interested in how we drive our politics. You must be soldiers of democracy. You must mobilize the people to interrogate those in power as the resources of the nation belongs to the people”, he said.
Oshiomhole stated “as I reviewed your parade and watched closely your performance my hope and confidence that Nigeria has a great future was reaffirmed.
“At this time we have security challenges. All of us must see ourselves as security officers. We must be vigilant. We must monitor what is happening around us and we must share information with the security agencies.
The Governor noted that the future of the nation depends on the determination of the people adding “you as corps members represent the face of the future”.
The Governor disclosed that corps members posted to public schools in the State will be paid special allowance to give them a sense of belonging.
“In Edo State, we are not perfect, but we recognize that whatever we do we are stewards of the people. I ask when you are posted to various communities, encourage our people to ask questions, be vigilant and encourage them to insist that they own the country and the leaders are stewards” he added.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports and the Chairman of the Governing Council Mrs. Omorede Osifo commended the corps members for their comportment during the period of orientation.
She expressed the hope that the orientation will enable them fit into communities they are posted to. The Commissioner appealed to them to do nothing that will smear the image of the NYSC. Three hundred and sixty Youth Corps members participated in the orientation exercise.
