Anambra guber: NYSC boss hails corps members on election duties

Ukpono Ukpong

The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, has commended the patriotism of Corps Members engaged in the conduct of the governorship election in Anambra State.

Ibrahim made the commendation at the weekend while monitoring the election in the nine Local Government Areas of the State.

He said the Corps Members had written their names in the anals of history, having contributed towards the entrenchment of a credible electoral process.

Ibrahim enjoined them to remain impartial and perform their duties in line with the established rules.

Also, the Director-General during his visit to the Permanent Orientation Camp in I’muawulu/Mbaukwu, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, advised corps members to be law-abiding and be of good conduct throughout the service year.

Ibrahim, who sensitized the Corps Members on the four Cardinal Programmes of the NYSC, urged them to always obey the NYSC Bye-Laws and the rules and regulations of their places of primary assignments as well as serve as role models that would leave good legacies after service.

“Please take advantage of the Orientation Course to promote unity and teamwork, and ensure that the spirit of NYSC lives in you forever”, the DG said.

He advised them to study the felt needs of their host communities and initiate laudable projects that would add value to the lives of the residents.

The Director-General further enjoined them to take advantage of the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme of the Scheme that was initiated to empower them for self-employment.

“Identify your talent, drive your vision with passion and commitment and the sky will be your limit”, the Director-General said.

He said NYSC Management had partnered financial institutions like the Central Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Industry, Heritage Bank and Access Bank among others, towards supporting Corps Members with loans to finance their businesses.

He also said efforts are in top gear for the establishment of NYSC Trust Fund, which would, among other benefits, make funds available to Corps Members for actualization of their business dreams.

The DG appealed to the Corps Members to avoid the wrong usage of the Social Media, adding that they should, instead, deploy it for the promotion of national unity and integration.

He warned them against unauthorized journeys, while also maintaining that only State Coordinators, and not Corps Employers, could grant them permission to travel within the country.

Ibrahim further warned the Corps Members to avoid boarding commercial vehicles by the roadside, adding that management had partnered the Federal Road Safety Corps and transport unions to ensure they are provided with roadworthy vehicles while travelling.

In a similar development, the Director-General while on an unscheduled visit to the NYSC Garment Factory at Mgbaku, Anambra State, expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the factory.

Ibrahim particularly commended Onifade for his managerial acumen, and urged him and the rest of the workforce to sustain their level of commitment.

He said Management would continue to support the growth of the factory in line with his policy on reinvigoration of the NYSC Ventures.

Conducting the Director-General round, the Factory Manager, Joshua Onifade briefed him about the measures taken by the Management towards optimising its operations, including the provision of thirty-six new industrial sewing machines.  

He said that the factory had refurbished ten old industrial sewing machines, thereby increasing the number of functional ones to forty-six.

He thanked the Director-General for the provision of a 20KVA sound proof generator to power the equipment, adding that through his own initiative, the factory has been connected to the National grid.

The Manager further stated that with the steps taken by the Director-General to re-energize the factory, it now makes daily production of two hundred and twenty-three sets of kits comprising khaki suits, P. E. shorts and plain vests, adding that he was determined to double the output.

He requested the management to provide a screen printing machine to enable the factory to resume mass production of crested vests.

Onifade noted that within the last one year, N10 million had been remitted to the Federal Government’s coffers as a result of the improvements made in the factory.

The Manager disclosed that about thirty Corps Members are engaged for sewing, adding that in a bid to maximise opportunities for the Corps Members, a Skill Acquisition Centre had been established within the facility.

According to him, the host community also benefits as not less than fifty women are engaged for botton tackling.