Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma praised President Muhammadu Buhari for maintaining the National Youth Service Corps program despite all the odds and urged envoys to Imo State to see the place as their home.
He expressed his delight to see young men and women showing up to Imo State from their various states across the country for the annual program of giving a year of their lives in service to their homeland.
The governor spoke at the opening ceremony of the orientation course for 2023 Batch A’ Stream 1 Corps members deployed to Imo State at the NYSC Permanent Camp Eziama Obaire in the Nkwerre Local Government Area.
Addressing the corps members after their swearing in and signing their oath before Imo State Chief Justice Judge Theresa Chikeka, the governor reminded them that NYSC must deepen national unity and integration.
He charged them to avoid all forms of discrimination, noting that the delimitation of Nigeria into geopolitical zones is solely for the purpose of development and regardless of the zone, what is important is that all Nigerians are proud of the country.
The Governor assured them that they should view Imo State as their own state, therefore they are guaranteed all the rights and privileges of the Imo Indians while conducting their business.
“They must see themselves and their host communities as brothers and sisters,” he said.
The governor assured them that his administration would continue to support the federal government through the policy of increasing their welfare packages to allow them to show more interest and commitment to the national program.
“To achieve this, it is necessary to encourage each of us to avoid all forms of discrimination, whether religious, ethnic or political. We must understand that the brain box of our national life is the ability to live together as brothers and sisters,” she said.
In his welcoming remarks, the Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Youth Service Corps in Imo State, who is also the commissioner for youth and sports development, Hon. Emeka Okoronkwo, thanked the governor for accepting the invitation to the program.
Okoronkwo praised the Corps members for ignoring all the negative rumors and decided to come to Imo State to serve and ensure peace and security for them.
NYSC Imo State Coordinator, Ms. Rachael Idaewor, welcomed the Governor’s encouragement to NYSC in the state, saying he had shown tremendous magnanimity with the plan.
