The Gombe State Government on Friday assured newly deployed National Youth Service Corps members of adequate security and welfare throughout their service year in the state.
The government also urged the corps members to feel at home and contribute meaningfully to the development of the state.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sport Development, Barrister Yusuf Abdullahi Waziri, who represented the state Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, stated this during the swearing-in of 1,502 batch c stream I corps members at the temporary NYSC orientation camp in Amada, Akko Local Government Area of the state.
The corps members comprised 803 males and 699 females.
Waziri said the governor regretted his inability to attend the ceremony due to other official engagements, noting that he had delegated him to represent him and convey his goodwill to the corps members.
He said, “His Excellency regrets not being able to attend today’s swearing-in ceremony. He has a lot of commitments that prevented him from coming, so he assigned me to represent him and extend his message of goodwill to all the new corps members.
“He wants them to feel at home and serve Gombe State with all their strength and commitment.”
On security, the commissioner assured the corps members that the state government had continued to prioritise their safety and wellbeing.
He said, “Whenever corps members are coming, security is provided to ensure that their safety and wellbeing are maintained.
“Gombe is a peaceful state. They are in a good place where they can deliver their service diligently without fear of harassment or intimidation.”
Waziri also explained that the state government had made efforts to ensure that the NYSC orientation exercise was held at the permanent camp, but the facility was not ready for the current batch.
He said the government was committed to completing the necessary arrangements for the new camp.
“We regret not conducting this orientation at the new site this time around. Efforts have already been made to ensure that the permanent site is put in place.
“We had made serious efforts to ensure that these new corps members conducted their orientation at the new camp, but sometimes man’s wishes are not what God may prevail. Hopefully, the next orientation camp will be conducted there,” he added.
Also speaking, the NYSC Gombe State Coordinator, Chinwe Nwachuku, charged the corps members to give their best to the state and leave a positive legacy through community development.
Nwachuku said, “I expect them to give their best to Gombe State and make sure they leave their mark in terms of community development. They should also be good, law-abiding citizens of the state.”
The NYSC coordinator commended Governor Yahaya for his support for the scheme, particularly the facilities provided at the orientation camp and the augmentation of feeding for corps members.
“I am very appreciative of His Excellency, first and foremost, for the camp. We were there the last time with you, and it is top-notch. There is no camp that is going to beat our camp,” she said.
“I also want to thank him for the augmentation of feeding for these corps members in Gombe State.
“I want to thank every Gombite. We Gombites have been so nice to the corps members whenever they come, and I want to thank everybody in the state.”