The First Lady of Ondo State, Her Excellency, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has disclosed that NYSC remains the foundation on which corps members can build their respective careers.
The First Lady made the disclosure during the Exhibition/Closing ceremony of Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) activities for the 2021 Batch ‘A’ (Stream II) orientation course.
According to the founder of Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), NYSC SAED is a veritable platform which will make the corps members self-reliant especially after the completion of their service year.
“NYSC has remained a laudable programme through which Nigerian youths can harness their potentials for national growth and development. The foundation laid by the founding fathers has paved ways for graduate youths to overcome the challenges of unemployment in our society”.
Arabinrin Akeredolu revealed that according to the Nigerian Methodology, the unemployment rate for 2021 in Nigeria was put at 17.5% while there are indications that the figure would further increase in 2022.
“I cannot deny that tingling sense of fear that, you will soon have to contend with the alarming unemployment rate in the country, and this is why you must take these skills you have learnt in the course of this SAED programme very seriously”.
“No Government has ever singlehandedly, without the efforts and collaboration of well-meaning citizens successful tackled the challenges of job creation and the realisation of this inspired me to come up with BEMORE empowerment initiative to reposition the young ones especially the girl child”.
“Let me remind you that the responsibility of the Government is to provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and I can assure that the administration of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (SAN) is leaving no stone unturned to create perfect atmosphere for small and medium scale enterprises to flourish in the State”.
“I look forward to seeing some of you here today settling and establishing fruitful and legal businesses here in Ondo. This is the time to work and develop this country. If we work together with zest, determination and hope, then what you have started on this camp will change the country for good”.
“In this journey of self reliance, you will encounter numerous obstacles, you may fail several times too. Do not be discouraged; patience, perseverance, commitment and consistency are the watchwords. I have no doubt that you will succeed”.
She urged the corps members to take advantage of information available around them to create something for themselves and be problem solvers that will not only make a living but also make name that would become household.
The founder of Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu Foundation (BAAF) encouraged the members of the service corps to eschew sharp practices and resist all temptations to join mad race for quick money regardless of the means but to value integrity, honesty and virtues of hard work.
“Any wealth that is acquired through fraudulent and exploitative means is no wealth at all and will never stand the test of time. Let me state emphatically that honestly and hard work pays and you can be legitimately wealthy”.
The First Lady who had her first degree in Zoology from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and capped it with higher degree in Fisheries and majored in Aquaculture from University of the Philippines said that she is committed to working with the NYSC.
“To the NYSC management in the state, I want to assure you that the Office of the First Lady will continue to work with you to ensure that the visions of the Scheme are actualised” she concluded.
The Ondo State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Victoria Nnenna Ani extolled the virtues of Her Excellency as a mother who is extremely passionate about the development of all youths irrespective of ethnic background and religious beliefs.
“Your Excellency, I have it on records that you have singlehandedly sponsored many corps members capital intensive projects and you equally rally support for life impacting projects across the length and breadth of the Sunshine State”.
“I have it on good authority that you have facilitated employment opportunities for some corps members who served in Ondo State. All these are testimonies that you are indeed a detribalised Nigerian who was born in the East, participated in the NYSC programme in the North and happily married to a Yoruba man from the West”.
The Camp Director, Mrs. Itohan Ehimwenma appreciated the First Lady and her entourage which included the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Esther Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, the wives of Executive Chairmen in the Akoko Division of the state and some notable personalities of repute.
The highpoint of the colourful ceremony was the presentation of gifts and prizes for the winners of Inter-Platoon competitions by Her Excellency, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Esther Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa and the State Coordinator, Mrs. Victoria Nnenna Ani.
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