Gov Douye Diri of Bayelsa on Wednesday said corps members have continued to play critical roles in community Development which is essential to national development.
Diri, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Development, Chairman, Mrs Grace Alagoa said this while presiding over the closing ceremony of the 2024 Batch ‘A” Stream I Orientation Course held at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Boro Town.
According to him, the presence of corps members in all the nooks of crannies of the state makes them beneficial for commumity development as they initiate, execute and commission vital community development service projects.
He emphasised that corps members have positive impact on pupils and students as they mentor them to become good citizens and leaders of tomorrow.
He said security and welfare of corps members will remain top priority of the government to enable them serve the nation in the state.
According to him, the government will continue to provide conducive environment for them to have a rewarding service year in Bayelsa.
He directed all corps employers and critical stalk holders to assist the corps members to settle down in Bayelsa as home away from home.
He enjoined the corps members to shun induced rejection and said that truancy, abseentism and redundancy will not be tolerated by the government.
Earlier, the State Coordinator, Mrs Charity Okpalifo commended the corps members and camp officials for their high level of cooperation and discipline that ensured a hitch free orientation course.
She also called on the corps members to emulate their predecessors by carrying out their duties diligently, describing primary and secondary assignments as important cardinal programmes of NYSC.
She thanked the Governor, government and people of Bayelsa state for the immense support to the scheme and appealed to all corps employers to assist the corps members to quickly settle down to render quality services to the State.
Speaking on the essence of the orientation course, the State Coordinator urged corps members to use the lessons learnt such as patriotism, team work and resilience to contribute their own quota towards the progress and development of the country.
She advised them to remember at all times that they are ambassadors of the NYSC, their families and as well as institutions of graduation, thereby urging them to be wary of acts that can portray the Scheme in bad light.
She encouraged them to build on the skills acquired during the in-camp Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme in order to empower themselves for self-reliance.
While thanking the Bayelsa government for the on going construction of two additional hostels at the camp, she appealed for early completion to cater for the increasing number of corps members posted to the State.
The highlight of the programme was a colourful parade match past by the corps members.