As the corps members take their first major step into the labour market, Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano has reflected on his days as a member of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) during which period he distinguished himself as the Best Corps Member with a prize in his kitty.
Disclosing this during the closing ceremony of the 2015 Batch A Orientation programme at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Umunya, Governor Obiano looked back with nostalgia at his service days in Benue State and noted that he still cherished the prize to the extent that “it occupies a prominent place in my trophy cabinet to this day.”
Urging the youths to emulate the spirit of excellence, the Governor advised them “to make the most of the opportunity and contribute to the growth and progress of our State and nation wherever you are posted,” assuring them “Anambra is safe, peaceful and our people are accommodating.”
He alerted them that the service experience was usually one of the most remarkable periods in life marking as “rite of passage from youthful exuberance to life of meaning and responsibility” and “a tool for national integration and unity,” adding that the service would open for them “the doors to Nigeria’s cultural diversity and make it easier for them to understand one another and deepen the national unity.”
Harping more on the import of the service experience, Governor Obiano said: ‘‘I also hope that the experience you would have garnered here will shape your vision of Nigeria, the power of her diversity and the immensity of her potentials. It is my fervent hope that any of you who had some misgivings when you were posted to Anambra that you will eventually educate your family and friends back home on what you would have seen and experienced here. Again we are a warm and receptive people who are open to other people, cultures and ideas that will help us evolve into a stronger and more prosperous society.”
Continuing, Governor Obiano charged them as young people to take charge of tomorrow by laying a solid foundation today as according to him, tomorrow belongs to the youths while at the same time taking advantage of the modernity and world wide web in the 21st Century and make the best out of life.
“As young people, tomorrow belongs to you. But you can start taking charge of tomorrow by laying the necessary foundation today. The beauty of our world in the 21st Century is that we can be whatever we want to be. The explosion of the internet and the entire information super highway has unleashed a lot of possibilities on humanity. I urge you to look inwards and think of what you can do to take advantage of all the emerging opportunities in the communities … and the global market place,” the Governor counseled.
He reminded them of the need to always remember their parents and guardians who toiled for years to get them to the stage they found themselves now, noting that the choice they make would determine if they would be successful in future or not, while urging them to engage in activities that would equip them after the Orientation camping and shun unnecessary travels.
The high point of the end of Orientation event was the inspection of the Parade by 210 members out of the 2,158 Corps members in the 2015 Batch-A NYSC Orientation Camp at Umunya, Anambra State by the Governor.
