By Joseph Atainyang
Stakeholders of the Nigerian social environment have been asked to be vigilant as well as show commitment to the course of saving the lives and properties of corps members from the arms of cultists in the country.
The Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Akwa Ibom State, Mr Cyril Akhanemhe made the call recently during the Passing out Parade of the corps at the Uyo Township Stadium.
The state coordinator said it was important that the state government, security agents as well as traditional rulers lent their hands in protecting corps members as there were situations where they (corps members) were being attacked by cultists.
Akhanemhe, while responding to news men, explained that he had been to such places, interacted with traditional institutions in the state as well as the police chiefs, adding that there were improvements on the security quest around corps members in the state.
His words, "We are imploring the security agents, the traditional rulers and the government to help in protecting the lives and properties of corps members because there are situations that corps members are being attacked by cultists.
I've been to such places; I've held town hall meetings with traditional rulers, the DPO and the commissioner of police.
There is improvements on the security quest around them. But we want more because without security, these corps members cannot be productive. They cannot even attempt to stay in Akwa Ibom State."
Earlier in his address, Cyril Akhanemhe charged out going corps members to parley their skills into productive ends by using their entrepreneurial skills acquired during the service year.
Akhanemhe who was delighted by the disciplined nature of the members whom he described as outstanding, said the skills taught to all corps members in the nation through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme was geared towards equipping them with business skills to identifying opportunities and venturing into any business of their choice in order to become self employed and employers of labour in the face of employment dearth in present Nigerian economy.
The state coordinator said, "It is important that our corps members should learn. They should learn skills because one can become a millionaire in four years.
They should provide jobs for themselves if there are no jobs. Some of them have learnt hair dressing, fashion design, beautification, and so on. We enjoin them to go home and start from somewhere.
Talent without skills is nothing. They have talents and NYSC has given them skills. So we expect them to parley their talents into productive ends."
He commended corps members who gave good accounts of themselves by performing creditably well and executing community development projects, which he said, were "scattered over the landscape" of Akwa Ibom State and prayed God to see them through in everything in life as well as take them safely to their respective states.
Mr Akhanemhe acknowledged the contributions of the state government under the administration of Deacon Udom Emmanuel whose "Dakkada" (arise) vision was significant to the commitment and devotion of corps members that have shown zeal in their service to the nation.
He however used the occasion to thank the security agents in the state, the Police Commissioner, the traditional rulers and even heads of corps members' places of primary assignments for keeping their eyes on them and ensuring the safety of their lives and property while soliciting more of such cooperation.
"We want to thank the traditional rulers, the security agents and the government of Akwa Ibom State for their responsiveness and partnership."
Meanwhile, corps members who spoke with journalists after the event shared their experiences saying the compulsory one year service to the nation was very significant and helpful and that government should sustain the programme so that many unborn youths would be part of it.
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