NAN-H-111
Performance
By Temitope Salami
Sagamu (Ogun), Feb. 1, 2017 (NAN) The Director–General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, on Wednesday advised corps members to be disciplined and always engage in adequate preparation in order to create the future they envisage.
Kazaure gave the advice during a working visit to the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp of the 2017 Batch ‘B’, Stream 2 corps members on in Sagamu, Ogun.
The director-general, who was represented by Mr Adebayo Somefun, NYSC Head of Reforms, stressed the importance of the scheme as a necessary training ground in helping youths actualise their dreams as future leaders.
He, however, lamented that a lot of the problems being faced by the nation was linked to poor leadership where leaders had been saddled with positions they were not prepared for.
According to him, leadership is not to be seen as a right but rather a responsibility requiring preparation, discipline, integrity, patriotism and sacrifice.
“We have no other country other than Nigeria and as future leaders, you must join in the effort to make it great again.
“If you fail to plan, you are already planning to fail, so take this time as a time of preparation.
“Preparation is the key to success for a fulfilling future and leadership is about adding values, serving and not looting or abusing power.
“It is your character that determines your destiny in life. As a leader, you must be an exemplary figure, having self-discipline and a sterling character.
“A leader is one who knows the way, shows the way and goes the way.
“ That is the stuff that true leaders are made of,” Kazaure said.
The NYSC boss also stressed the importance of hard work while urging the youths to discover their potentials.
“Hard work does not kill, it only removes hard life. Every success is a product of hard work. You all have potentials and are carrying solutions in you. Find yours and propel yourselves to success.
“Achievement is not a gift because every achievement in life is a product of preparation, persistence and perseverance,’’ he said.
He also appealed to them to maintain high level of security alertness at all times, especially in the face of security challenges across the nation.
Kazaure added that the corps members’ security, safety and general welfare were paramount to the NYSC management and as such corps members must shun risky engagements.
He frowned at unauthorised journeys, night journeys and attendance of night parties outside the purview of the NYSC scheme and programmes.
Similarly, he urged the corps members to take the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme of the orientation course seriously.
“The present reality is to make sure that our youths don’t rely on non-existent white collar jobs which are difficult to find.
“Knowledge is power, so it is important to take SAED lectures very seriously.
“The aim is to set you up to become future chief executive offices and employers’ of labour, in other words, excellence creates capacity,” he said.
Kazaure warned the youths to avoid seeking short cuts through dubious and fraudulent means.
“The real definition of a man is your name, your education, your values, your character, your honesty and your integrity.
“Once these values are intact, they automatically define who you really are,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that 2, 532 Batch ‘B’ Stream 2 corps members were registered and sworn-in for a three-week orientation programme at the Ogun State Permanent Orientation Camp on Jan. 26.
They comprised 1, 131 male and 1, 401 female corps members. (NAN)
TDS/COO/OJO
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(Edited by Cecilia Odey /Mufutau Ojo)