Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has charged the new corps members posted to the state to do away with all the negative ideas they have about the state and be open minded about serving in the state for the next one year.
Ikpeazu handed down the advice on Friday on the occasion of the swearing – in ceremony of the Batch “A”, Stream II corps members comprising 578 males and 584 females at the Abia State NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Umunna, in Bende Local Government Area.
Ikpeazu, represented by the state Commissioner Ministry of Youth Development, and chairman, NYSC State Governing Board, Charles Esonu, advised the new corps members “to do away with all those preconceived negative and bad notions you have about Abia state and its people before now and have a healthy attitude to work and play and let your heart be open to positive changes and innovations, use this one in a lifetime opportunity and the period of your service year to make friends across geo-political zones for your future, Nigeria needs people like you to show that togetherness and oneness is a virtue.”
He assured them that in Abia state, “the government will continue to do its part to give you the needed support and enabling environment for you to excel by consciously taking every measure to ensure that your life and properties including that of other citizens are protected against all forms of molestation and abuse.”
He also called on them to do their utmost best to learn one or two skills during the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development lecture series among other life enhancing programmes lined up for them
Speaking on, he noted that this would be the last set of corps members he would swear in as the governor and implored them to cultivate a positive attitude to this three-week orientation course exercise because it will either make their service year rewarding or not, depending on their attitude.
In her address, the State Coordinator, Mrs. Dick Iruenabere Ufuoma, said, “it is pertinent to note that the scheme has in recent time been witnessing an explosion in the number of participants in the compulsory one-year service to our fatherland.
She assured the corps members that under their watch in the state, they would continue to “initiate and execute programmes aimed at achieving the overall goal of the scheme.
She further encouraged them to make the most of their time in Abia, learn from the host community, and contribute to the development of the state.
The corps members were sworn in by the Chief Judge of Abia State, Honourable Justice Lilian Abai, who was represented by Honourable Justice Chidozie Nwakama.
