NAN-H-38
NYSC
By Temitope Salami
Sagamu (Ogun), Aug. 15, 2017 (NAN) The Ogun government on Tuesday pledged to assist NYSC members interested in agricultural production with land and credit facilities.
Mr Afolabi Afuape, the State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, made the promise at the closing ceremony of the NYSC 2017 Batch A Stream II Orientation Course held at the corps Permanent Orientation Camp in Sagamu.
Afuape, who represented Gov. Ibikunle Amosun at the event, called on corps members to embrace the NYSC agricultural initiative as a way of boosting food production in the country.
The commissioner spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the side-lines of the event.
“Agriculture production and industrialisation are among the focal points of our “Mission to Rebuild” agenda.
“It gives ample opportunity to youths and corps members to key into it and exploit the benefits inherent in the initiative.
“One year is enough to do something productive in agriculture if one is disciplined and focused.
“If any corps member or youth is willing to take up any venture in agriculture, we at the Ministry of Youths and Sports are ready to give them the necessary support.
“We will link them up with the Ministry of Agriculture for proper orientation on the steps to take in benefiting from the state land acquisition and development scheme.
“Beside the financial aid through credit facilities which the state government is also willing to give, the interest from the individual is what matters most,’’ he said.
Afuape further urged the youths to shun crime and other acts of indiscipline which he blamed on the diminishing value system.
“We have a very bad value system nowadays. It will change when we stop worshiping money and people whose source of wealth cannot be queried.
“A change of orientation amongst our youths is necessary and more importantly, government must also not rest on its oars in curbing unemployment.
“We must continue to seek avenues of engaging them positively and providing an enabling environment for their development,’’ he said.
Mrs Gladys Mbachi, the NYSC Coordinator in the state, had commended the corps members on their discipline during the course of the orientation exercise.
She urged them to maintain the high standards of the NYSC at their places of primary assignment.
NAN reports that a total of 2,200 corps members, who registered for the orientation exercise, were discharged with their posting letters.
The corps members were made up of 1,469 males and 731 females. (NAN).
TDS/GOM/OJO
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(Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Mufutau Ojo)