Govts tells Corps members to Create jobs for themselves

Some 2012 Batch C corps members after their passing-out parade in Lagos ... on Thursday.

The National Youth Service Corps on Thursday organised a passing out ceremony for the 2012 Batch C NYSC members across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory with  some governors advising them to deploy their energies towards nation building. They also advised them to create jobs for themselves.

In Akwa Ibom State, the governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, advised them to continue serving the nation in whatever sector of the economy they find themselves.

Speaking through the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Ita Umo, during the passing out ceremony in Uyo on Thursday, the governor urged the youth corps members to develop positive attitude towards the country.

He said, “Let me advise you that the task of nation building does not end with your one year mandatory service. As you step out of the scheme and Akwa Ibom State today, you need to be reminded to always have positive attitude towards Nigeria, by aspiring to lift our nation high as inscribed in the NYSC anthem.

The governor advised the outgoing 2,893 corps members in the state to embrace self-employment.

Also, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, urged the corps members to deploy their creative thinking into how to create jobs for themselves rather than roaming the streets in search of paid jobs.

Aregbesola said this at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Ede, Osun State on Thursday at the passing out ceremony of 2012 Batch C  corps members deployed into the state.

He said, “ It is imperative to stress that gone are the days to expect that immediately after service, one would secure an automatic life-time job even among several alternatives. The attitude and orientation of majority of our young graduates was that creative thinking and individual initiative ended when they wrote their final examination.

“This is absolutely wrong. You need to apply creativity more now in the face of unemployment bedeviling the nation. Focus more on self employment.”

Also, the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, advised the outgoing corps members to train themselves to become self-reliant in order to assist government to tackle the problem of unemployment.

Amaechi, who gave this advice on Thursday while addressing the 2012 Batch ‘C’ corps members at the passing-out of 3,431 corps members in Port Harcourt, said that white collar jobs were no longer available for employable Nigerians.

“As you are now faced with the task of seeking gainful employment, I advise you to nurture and apply yourselves to the practical lessons of self-employment, which you were exposed to in the course of your service year, through the skills acquisition and entrepreneurial development programme, as white collar jobs are no longer available for all employable Nigerians as in the past.

“I therefore urge you to be self-reliant so as to assist the government in fighting the rising rate of unemployment in our society,” Amaechi said.

However Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State urged them to make the necessary sacrifice required to achieve success in their chosen careers.

The governor said this on Thursday, at their passing-out ceremony in Enugu.

He said, “Some of you may be rightly apprehensive of what tomorrow holds for you. I want to assure you that it is bright. As educated young men and women with requisite skills, the sky is your limit.

“However, you must recognise that the road to success has never been easy. History has shown that no individual or nation has ever achieved success without sacrifices.”

He said that through their education and participation in the NYSC scheme, they had been equipped for survival in a competitive world.

Also, Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State commended the outgoing corps members for their contributions in tackling developmental challenges in the country.

Yero gave the commendation on Thursday at the passing out parade of 2012 ‘’ batch C ‘’ Corps members in Kaduna.

Represented by his deputy, Nuhu Bajoga, the governor noted that the scheme had impacted positively on the lives of the people, especially in the rural areas.

However, in Gombe State, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo offered automatic employment to 13 NYSC members who distinguished themselves in the service year.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the appointment included the 12 state merit awardees and the parade commander of the passing out parade ceremony.

The governor also announced N20,000 transport fares to each of the 720 youths, N500,000 to the overall best corps member and N1m to the soldiers that conducted the passing out parade ceremony.