Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, gave cheering news to staff and youth corps members in the Lagos camp of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Tuesday as he pledged a total sum of N5 billion for the completion of the permanent site of the NYSC camp in the state.
Sanwo-Olu, adorning corps member attire, said this while speaking at the completion of the course for stream one batch B of the corps members, held at the NYSC temporary camp in Iyana Ipaja.
The governor equally donated N100 million to the NYSC and its support staff, just as he pledged a cash donation of N100,000 to each of the 4,277 corps members.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was visiting the NYSC Orientation Camp for the first time, said he would ensure the permanent site for the NYSC was completed before the end of his administration.
Besides, the governor assured that he would take a particular interest in the batch passing out of the orientation camp and monitor it, saying that he would ensure automatic employment in the Lagos State Civil Service for 100 corp members among them after their one-year national service in the state.
The governor enjoined them to put in their best to serve the state, saying that the job opportunity shall be given to those that excelled amongst them in the one-year service to the state, irrespective of their discipline and the state they came from.
“One hundred best corps members will get automatic employment; put in your best in serving the state. You will get the job irrespective of where you come from; keep to the rule of NYSC; be the best of who you are; and this government will support you. Lagos will help you to make sure the best of your life is ahead of you,” the governor said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu further charged the corps members to always promote national unity and exemplify a high level of discipline, saying that they should be ready to persevere.
According to him, they have been prepared for the challenges ahead with the new skill and the determination to make a positive impact on them, notwithstanding that the road ahead of them could be very tough.
He assured them that there were boundless opportunities that lay ahead of them, pointing out in particular that there were diverse opportunities in Lagos that could make them realise their dream and which they should be ready to tap into.
“There are lots of opportunities that we have for you in Lagos. Lagos will provide you with opportunities to excel. Lagos is a land of opportunities to excel. Lagos is a land of opportunities; you have the privilege,” he said.
“What you have experienced in Lagos is the beginning of better things that will happen in your life. Don’t be moved by what you see on social media; be ready to challenge the status quo.
“If you can take the opportunity, you have what it takes to excel,” he added.
Earlier in her speech, the State Director of NYSC, Mrs. Yetunde Abimbola Baderinwa, said the youth corps members had been trained in skill acquisition and had learned skill work that would be useful to them in whichever part of the state they were posted to.
Baderinwa explained that due to a lack of sufficient accommodation, some of the corps members were posted to Ogun and Osun states for their orientation, disclosing that among them were 65 medical personnel.
She emphasised that the need for a permanent orientation camp for the NYSC in the state was long overdue, noting, however, that the corps members had exhibited a high level of discipline from the beginning of their course till the end.
Mrs. Baderinwa expressed appreciation to the state governor for donating a 32-seater bus for the state NYSC, just as she equally thanked the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, for the love she showed to corps members in the state.
