Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Maj.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, has warned corps members not to participate in partisan politics as the 2023 general election draws near.
He advised them to be unbiased anytime they are asked to serve as electoral officers.
The NYSC boss stated this while debriefing the 2022 Batch ‘A’ Stream 2 corps members in a nationwide virtual address.
Ibrahim counseled them to allow the lessons learnt during the orientation course to guide them during and after the service year.
In a statement by the Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations of the NYSC, Emeka Mgbemena, the DG also warned corps members to be security conscious and avoid anything that would endanger their safety.
He said: “Let the spirit of NYSC live in you. Steer clear of politics. NYSC is apolitical. Therefore, don’t get yourself involved in politics.
“You must be security conscious. Never put yourself in harm’s way. Don’t get yourself involved in any risky behaviour.
“For those of you going on relocation, kindly follow your State Coordinator’s guidelines, directives and instructions.”
Ibrahim urged the corps members to register with their skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development trainers and continue with the post-camp training.
The NYSC boss noted that most of the current corps members’ predecessors who embraced the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme have become business owners and wealth creators.
He warned against the use of the social media to spread fake news.
Ibrahim also urged the corps members to use the social media to promote national unity and integration, which the NYSC was established for.
The NYSC boss reiterated his call for the corps members to put premium on their safety and security.
“Don’t embark on any unauthorised journey. Don’t board vehicles by the roadsides, and don’t accept free rides from anyone. Be wise and be smart,” he added.
Also, 10 Batch ‘A’ Stream ‘2’ corps members in Ebonyi State have received cash grants from Access Bank under the bank’s Accessprenuer.
The bank said the programme is aimed at encouraging young entrepreneurs to be self-reliant on completion of their service.
Regional Manager of Access Bank, Mr. Chinedu Eze, said the bank partnered NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Acquisition (SAED) to finance, support and scale up the business of young entrepreneurs as they represent the future of Nigeria.
After scrutiny, Suleiman Kalid Ahmed, who won the first place, got N1,000,000; Adebayo Oluwafemi Victor, who came second, got N700,000, while Ilesanmi Adedeji Emmanuel, who came third, got N400,000.
Also, Aladejobi Elizabeth, who came fourth, received N250,000; Ikechukwu Emmanuel, who came fifth, got N150,000, while consolation prizes of N100,000 each were given to the remaining five contestants.
The Chief Judge, Mrs. Chinyere Otuonye, lauded the beneficiaries’ courage and admonished them to use the grant for its purpose.
SAED Coordinator, Mrs. Ezeabuta, assured the beneficiaries that Access Bank would monitor the fund to ensure it is judiciously used.
