By Omolara Akintoye
Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.) says the State will continue to support the noble scheme and lofty ideals of the National Youth Service Corp towards meeting the desired goals and aspirations.
Vice Admiral Ibas stated this on Tuesday at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Nonwa-Gbam Tai during the closing ceremony of 2025 Batch A Stream One orientation course for Corps Members deployed to Rivers State.
Represented by the Secretary to the State government, Professor Ibibia Worika, he urged the corps members to integrate well with the people and initiate community development projects that reflect the needs of the people.
”Take Rivers State as your home and be assured that you will not want to go back to your home State at the end of the service year. And above all, do all that is needed to contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of Rivers State.”
Furthermore, he assured them that Rivers people will treat them with “superlative hospitality and goodwill which will make them not to think of returning to their home States after the Service Year.”
In his address, the State NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Moses Oleghe, assured the State that the Corps members are ready for the next phase of the Scheme, where they will make positive impacts in their places of primary assignment.
Mr Oleghe also used the occasion to appeal to Corps Employers and other stakeholders, to provide the Corps members with suitable accommodation and welfare incentives that will motivate them for optimal performance.
” I call on the Corps members to see their posting as the will of God and a call to serve inorder to leave lasting legacies to the communities across the state. Get involved in either personal or civic or group community development projects . Identify the felt needs of of your host communities. Leave your community better than you met them.”
The corps members that spoke with our correspondent described the experience in camp as strenuous but impactful.
For Corps member Ifeanyichukwu Dominion, It was a sweet bitter experience, strenuous and interesting activities. His father words “The idea of waking up really really early and going for drills was not easy but as human beings I adapted. The camp was good, no mosquito bites and we had extra and quality meals”.
