Tap from agricultural potentials, Fayemi urges corps members

The Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Thursday, advised the 1,851 new corps members deployed to Ekiti to tap into the rich agricultural potentials of the state to become self-reliant and employers of labour.

Fayemi, who said his administration placed a premium on youth development, tasked the corps members to seize the opportunity of the agriculture enabled environment of the state to develop themselves, contribute to the development of the state and in the process, reduce unemployment in the state.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, spoke at the National Youth Service Corps Permanent Orientation Camp, Ise/Orun/Emure while declaring open the orientation course for the 2019 Batch C, Stream 1 corps members.

He said, “My government places a high premium on the youth. Therefore, the corps members deployed to Ekiti State will be engaged to drive agricultural development of the state. In the absence of white-collar jobs, you are encouraged to go into agriculture – farming, fishery, snail farming, etc. Ekiti State is rich in farmland and I enjoin you to tap into these blessings”.

The governor advised the corps members to prioritise commitment, patriotism, and unity of the country above personal interest, saying, "The unity of this great country is sacrosanct, you must uphold the integration of Nigeria at all cost.

"This was the mission and vision of the founding fathers of this scheme in 1973 under the leadership of the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon," the governor added.

The NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs Emmanuella Okpongete, charged the new corps members to utilize the various skill acquisition and entrepreneurship training they would undergo during the orientation course.

Okpongete advised them to be good ambassadors of their families and alma maters by shunning vices that could bring them to disrepute.