The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno has cautioned corps members deployed to the state to avoid ethnicity and religious discrimination during their service to the nation.
He gave the advice on Friday during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream 11 corps members at Ikot Itie Udung in Nsit Atai Local Government Area.
Represented by Mr Emmanuel Akpabio, the Director, Youth Development, Ministry of Youth Development, Eno urged the corp members to be patriotic and committed to national unity and development.
The governor said that the orientation camp represented a mini Nigeria where every part of the nation was represented.
He urged them to see the country’s diversity as a source of strength, courage and inspiration during the service year.
“As strategic stakeholders in the Nigerian project, your contributions must transcend ethnic, religious, linguistic, and socio-cultural boundaries. Our country looks up to you for fresh ideas, renewed hope, and the promise of a brighter future,” he said.
Eno expressed the state government’s commitment to the welfare of corps members in the state.
He said that his administration would continue to support the NYSC scheme to perform its roles to the advantage of the nation.
The governor said that work would soon commence on the rehabilitation of the infrastructure at the orientation camp.
Earlier, the NYSC Coordinator in Akwa Ibom, Mrs Ngozi Akuagbaogu, said that a total of 1,579 corps members, comprising 713 male and 866 female, were successfully registered for the orientation exercise.
Akuagbaogu tasked the corps members to embrace the scheme’s Skills Acquisition and
Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme following the unemployment challenge in the country.
“The SAED programme remains one of the flagship initiatives of the NYSC, it is aimed at curbing the challenge of unemployment. Take the programme seriously by choosing a skill, and participate actively in all the training sessions,” she said.
The state coordinator decried the current condition of facilities in the camp, describing it a ‘serious cause for concern’
She urged the governor to urgently come to the aid of the scheme by renovating the camp
The highlight of the ceremony was the administration of oath of allegiance on the corps members by the Chief Judge, Justice Ekaete Obot.
(NAN)
