Executive Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON has advised graduate youths mobilised for national service in Ondo State to discard the stereotyping of people from the South-West geo-political zone and other ethnic nationalities.
Arakunrin Akeredolu offered this advice while declaring open the 2023 Batch ‘B’ (Stream 1) orientation course at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko.
“I want you to discard whatever myth or misconception you may have been fed with about the people of the South-West or Ondo in particular. I am privileged by my status to inform you that Yoruba people are peace-loving, industrious, accommodating and above all, God-fearing. You will enjoy every bit of your stay with them”, he said.
The legal luminary disclosed that the people of the South-West geo-political zone respected and honoured individuals who were honest and straightforward.
“It is important to let you know that our people cherish respect a lot and they can go to any length to integrate you into the mainstream of their industrial and business activities and they equally love people who are honest and straightforward. The moment you deviate from this virtue, it would be difficult to enjoy their support any longer”, Akeredolu said.
The governor, who was represented by the Chairman, Ondo State NYSC Governing Board, Otunba Bamidele Ologun said that their security and welfare would be adequately taken care of during the service year.
“Our Government will continue to improve on developmental projects and infrastructures that will encourage those who observe their mandatory service year to stay and live in the state at the end of the service year”, he said.
Ologun said that their mobilisation at this period of celebration of the Golden Jubilee anniversary of the establishment of the NYSC scheme and the recent inauguration of the new political dispensation were divinely arranged and charged them to deliver on the set objectives designed by the founding fathers of the scheme.
The national award recipient, who is the chairman of South-West Governors Forum appreciated the managers of the scheme as well as other notable stakeholders for sustaining the scheme in her mission to objectively and effectively deliver on its mandate.
In her introductory address, the state coordinator, Mrs. Victoria Nnenna Ani thanked God for His protection over all the prospective corps members and for granting them travelling mercies from all the parts of the country as well as several others who travelled down from around the world to serve their fatherland.
The state coordinator informed the corps participants that the orientation course had been packaged to amongst other things, introduce them to the objectives and programmes of the NYSC scheme as well as prepare them for the challenges of the service year.
She further disclosed that while they are in camp, they would be introduced to a series of extracurricular camp activities that are exciting, rewarding and memorable. These according to her include but not limited to various lectures on topical issues, entrepreneurial training, parade drills, social and cultural activities and sports.
“Let me admonish you to participate actively in all these activities and comport yourselves as mature youths. Endeavour to cooperate with camp officials and obey all rules and regulations governing your stay in camp, and do not hesitate to approach any of my officers in case you need any assistance or clarification especially with regards to the verification/registration” she said.
The Chief Judge of Ondo State, Honourable Justice Olusegun Odusola administered the Oath of Allegiance on the 1600 prospective corps members who registered in the state for the service.
The Chief Judge who was competently represented by Honourable Justice Femi Silvester Akinbinu of the Akoko Judicial Division urged the prospective corps members to genuinely identify themselves with the problems and aspirations of the people in areas they are going to work.
The Special Guests of Honour and other distinguished invitees were treated to a tug-of-war contest by the representatives of the corps members that were selected by the Head of Citizenship and Leadership Training, otherwise known as Man ‘O’ War.
