Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, thrilled the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme staff and Corps members when he offered automatic employment for 100 Corps Members and pledged a total sum of N5billion for the completion of the NYSC permanent orientation camp in the state.
The governor, who adorned the NYSC uniform, disclosed these while speaking at the completion of the orientation course for the Stream 1 Batch B Corps members, held at the NYSC temporary orientation camp in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos.
The governor equally donated N100 million to the NYSC and its support staff in the State, 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 tenure.
Besides, the governor assured that he would take a particular interest in the batch doing the passing out of the orientation camp and monitor them, saying that he would ensure automatic employment into the Lagos State Civil Service for 100 corps members among them after their one year mandatory national service in the state.
The governor enjoined them to put in their best to serve the state, saying that the job opportunities shall be given to those that would excel amongst them in the one year service to the state, irrespective of their discipline and their state of origin.
“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 rules of NYSC, be the best of who you are, 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 high level of discipline, urging them to be ready to persevere.
According to him, they had been prepared for the challenges ahead with the new skills and the determination to make a positive impact in them, notwithstanding that the road ahead of them could be very tough.
He assured that there were boundless opportunities that lie ahead of them, pointing out in particular that there were diverse opportunities in Lagos that can make them realise their dreams, 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 the opportunities to excel, Lagos is land of opportunities to excel. Lagos is a land of opportunities, you have the privilege.
“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 skills acquisition and had learnt skill work which would be useful to them in whichever part of the state they were posted to.
Baderinwa explained that due to lack of sufficient accommodation at the temporary orientation camp, 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 office, just as she equally thanked the wife of State governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, for the love she showed to corps members in the state.