Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for sustaining the National Youths Service Corps programme despite all odds and urged those posted to Imo State to see the place as their home.
He expressed delight seeing young men and women who report to Imo State from their various states in the country for the annual programme of giving one year of their life in the service of their fatherland.
The governor spoke at the opening ceremony of the orientation course for 2023 Batch A’ Stream 1 corps members deployed to Imo State at the NYSC permanent camp Eziama Obaire in Nkwerre local government area of the state.
Addressing the corps members after their swearing-in and signing of their oath before the chief judge of Imo State, Justice Theresa Chikeka, the governor reminded them that NYSC is to deepen national unity and integration.
He charged them to shun all forms of discrimination, noting that the delineation of Nigeria into geo-political zones is purely for the purpose of development and no matter the zone, what is important is for all Nigerians to be proud of the country.
The governor assured them that they should see Imo State as their own state, hence they are guaranteed all the rights and privileges of Imo indigenship as they go about their businesses.
“You should see yourselves and your host communities as brothers and sisters,” he said.
The governor assured them that his administration would continue to support the federal government through the augmentation policy for their welfare packages to enable them show more interest and commitment to the national programme.
“To achieve the above, there is need to encourage each of us to shun all forms of discrimination, be it religious, ethnic, or political. We should understand that the brain box of our national life is the ability to live together as brothers and sisters,” he said.
In his welcome remarks, the chairman, National Youth Service Corps Governing Board in Imo State who is also the commissioner for youths and sports development, Hon. Emeka Okoronkwo, thanked the governor for honouring the invitation to the programme.
Okoronkwo commended the Corps members for ignoring all negative rumours and chose to come to Imo state to serve and assured them of peace and security.
Coordinator of the NYSC in Imo State, Mrs. Rachael Idaewor, expressed delight with the governor’s encouragement to the NYSC in the state, saying he had shown tremendous magnanimity to the scheme.
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