Eno urges corps members to promote national unity

Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has charged Corps members to serve with diligent and contribute their quota to the development of the state and nation at large.

The governor gave the advice at the swearing-in ceremony of Batch C Stream 11 corps members at the permanent orientation camp, Ikot Itie Udung, Nsit Atai Local Government Area on Friday.

Eno, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Development, Mr Effiong Nicholas, urged corps members to make good use of the opportunity given to them to serve their fatherland.

“As stakeholders in Nigerian projects, it is incumbent on you to continue the building process across linguistic, religious, ethnic and socio-cultural boundaries.

“Knowing fully well that Nigerians are looking up to you to give the country a new lease of life.

“The Akwa Ibom State Government will continue to perform its task of giving each and everyone of you the needed opportunities to contribute to the overall growth of our economy.

“We are consciously taking necessary step to ensure that your life and property, including that of other citizens are protected against all forms of molestation and abuse,” the governor said.

Eno urged the corps members to cultivate good attitude to work, learn new things and embrace innovations during the service year.

The governor charged the corps members to use the opportunity of the service year to make new friends across geo-political zones, stressing that the future of the nation depends on what they make out of the exercise.

“Nigeria needs people like you to show that we can stay together and achieve our aim of united and indivisible nation, though tribe and tongue may differ,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, the State Coordinator, Mr Sam Pepple, said that 1,660 corps members were deployed to the state, comprising of 718 males and 942 females.

Pepple said the corps members had settled down to face the orientation exercise as structured by the scheme.

He reminded them that the orientation programme was a regimented exercise strategically designed to acquaint the corps members with the vision and lofty ideals of the scheme.

Pepple appealed to the state government to assist the NYSC by fitting some infrastructure in the camp that was in deplorable state for the benefit of the corps members.

He appealed to the chairmen of the local government areas to build corpers lodges for the corps members posted to their councils.

It was reported that the highpoint of the ceremony was the administration of oath of allegiance on the corps members by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom, Justice Ekaete Obot.

Obot was represented by Justice Edem Akpan.