Passing out Parade of NYSC members in Unical

The Batch B Corp members that served in Cross River State passed out parade at the Open Pavilion of the University of Calabar, Stanley Uchegbu 400 Level of Accounting, Ogar Emmanuel 400Level of Electronic and Computer Technology reports that it was a successful one.
The National Youth Service Corps which started in 1973 by the military. The law that established it was Decree 24 with the accomplished goal of promoting the National unity and integration. In Cross River state, the Batch B of corps members trooped out in large number at Open Pavilion of the University of Calabar to pass out parade.

Present at ceremony were the Deputy Governor of Cross river, His Excellency Barr. Effiom Cobham, Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Patrick Ugbe, Special Adviser Budget Monitoring and Evaluation Dr Peter Oti, Coordinator NYSC scheme Cross river state Engr. Nkereke Ibangha, members of the State NYSC Governing Board, corps members and their love ones.
In his welcome address, Engr. Ibangha heartily welcomed all the guest and corps members to the passing out ceremony which was his first sending forth as the newly appointed state’s NYSC coordinator. According to him, the total number of One thousand nine hundred and twenty two (1922) corps members has served the good people and government of Cross river state diligently and efficiently for almost a year.

Forty seven (47) corps members have been sanctioned for various offenses ranging from negligent of duty and other malpractices that is tantamount to NYSC scheme constitution. Of all the corps deployed to the state, one member died in active service as a result of ill health.
The NYSC as an organization, prides itself as an organization that values discipline and if this batch of corps members have imbibed this virtues coupled with the skills they might have acquired during the service year, then starting a business of their own, no matter how small will be easier. We are also committed to complimenting the efforts of government at all levels in a collective drive to create a generation of young educated Nigerians who can key into the various initiatives of this administration aimed at empowering them to become employers of labor and not just job seekers added that Nigeria with the highest youth population in the world cannot afford to suffer with its abundant human and material resources.

The Governor of Cross river state, His Excellency Sen. Liyel Imoke who was represented by his Deputy Barr. Effiom Cobham after observing the guard of honor by the corps members, he advised them to be patriotic and willing to carry the wealth of experience gathered so far to serve the country in a higher platform. He also affirmed that government has put in place various avenues for soft loans that can be accessed by enterprising graduates.
The highlight of the ceremony was awarding meritoriously of three corps members, thirteen members who distinguished themselves were honored with the state governor's merit award, while thirteen others bagged the state Governing Board Chairman's award, and another one hundred were given the state coordinator’s commendation.

Speaking after receiving the award as the best corper, Dr. Stanley Egeonu who served at Comprehensive Secondary School Odukpani , said that he succored in giving free anti -natal services to pregnant women, free surgery and dewarming of children and other health care services. He appealed to the government to increase their monthly stipends (alawi) and as well as encouraging those corpers who which to serve humanity to go to the rural areas because that’s were they will meet people that really need their help. He charged the oncoming batch members to be vanguard of community development by identifying the felt needs of the host communities and alleviate them in collaboration with the people. He added that the managers of the NYSC scheme in various states should not relent in channeling energies to the youth towards achieving behavioral transformation beginning from altitudinal change.

On the part of Mr. Olili Bob Manuel who served at Okuku in Yala, emerging as the second best serving corper, he dunged a well, paid fee for computer programme for twenty peoples, renovated three classrooms at Bright Future Secondary School Okuku, donated text books and note books to some schools and equally organized Health Care Facility Programme.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, the coordinator of NYSC scheme Cross river state, said that the state remain the most peaceful and hospitality in the nation and used the opportunity to implore them not to relent in their efforts in caring for corps members. He charged community leaders, Parent Teachers Associations, prominate individuals and Community Development Associations to provide accommodations and other incentives to encourage corpers to remain where they are posted to.
Another corp member Lydia Ochuogu who served at Obudu spoke with campus life. According to her, t the NYSC has provided the opportunity and platform for job hunting since some corporate organization retain some of them after service. She equally described the one year service as a year of relaxation after surviving cult activities in school and strikes by ASUU, delaying entry into the harsh world of competition and graduate unemployment. It is a period of apprenticeship and acclimatization to learn how to live on pittance since government has no job to offer them. She said.

The youth is the greatest asset of the country so the government should create a platform that would make them harness their potentials said by one of the members who craved in anonymity.
Some corps members who do not want their names on print called for uniformity in their state allowance as they said that some states pay corps members as low as 2000 naira per month. They also called for the need to put their general welfare in the front burner as well as a special alternative scheme.