The Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, extended a warm welcome and crucial advice to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members commencing their service year in the state during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Stream II orientation course. Addressing the corps members at the NYSC camp in Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area, Governor Alia, represented by the Commissioner for Youth, Sports, and Creativity, Terkimbi Ikyange, underscored the paramount importance of national unity and development as the guiding principles for their service year. He urged them to embrace the rich cultural tapestry of their host communities while maintaining a respectful distance from local political engagements. This delicate balance between integration and neutrality, he emphasized, is vital for a successful and impactful service year.
The Governor’s message emphasized the dual role expected of corps members: integrating seamlessly into their host communities while simultaneously upholding their non-partisan status. He commended the corps members for their active participation in the three-week orientation program, highlighting its design to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute meaningfully to national development. He encouraged them to view their deployment to various primary assignments as an opportunity to apply these acquired skills, fostering positive change and contributing to the socio-economic advancement of Benue State. This call to action emphasized the potential of the NYSC program to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical application, empowering corps members to become agents of change within their respective communities.
Central to Governor Alia’s message was the imperative for corps members to leverage their skills, particularly those acquired during the skill acquisition training, to address the pervasive issue of youth unemployment. He painted a vision of corps members as “mirrors of society,” reflecting positive values and inspiring change within their host communities. By transferring their acquired knowledge and skills, he encouraged them to empower local youths, create opportunities, and ultimately stem the tide of unemployment. This emphasis on skills acquisition and transfer underscored the Governor’s commitment to youth development and economic empowerment, viewing the NYSC program as a vital tool for achieving these goals.
Beyond simply integrating and applying learned skills, Governor Alia urged the corps members to actively promote peace and peaceful coexistence within their host communities. He emphasized the importance of appreciating and respecting the diverse cultures and traditions of the Benue people, recognizing that such cultural sensitivity is essential for fostering harmony and understanding. This call for cultural sensitivity aligns with the core principles of the NYSC program, which seeks to promote national integration and bridge cultural divides. By immersing themselves in the local culture while respecting its nuances, corps members could become ambassadors of unity and understanding, contributing to a more cohesive and harmonious society.
Furthermore, the Governor reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the security and welfare of all corps members throughout their service year. This assurance aimed to allay any concerns regarding their safety and well-being, allowing them to focus on their primary assignments and community development initiatives. The commitment to security and welfare reflects the government’s recognition of the vital role played by corps members in national development and its determination to provide a conducive environment for them to thrive.
Prior to the Governor’s address, Mrs. Veronica Garba, the Benue State NYSC Coordinator, expressed her profound gratitude to Governor Alia for his consistent support of the NYSC program, particularly his efforts in addressing the erosion challenges at the orientation camp. She echoed the Governor’s sentiments, urging the corps members to diligently apply the skills they had acquired during the orientation program to make a positive impact on their host communities. This reinforcement of the Governor’s message underscored the collaborative effort between the state government and the NYSC in ensuring a successful and impactful service year for the corps members. The shared vision of empowering youth and fostering community development through the NYSC program was clearly evident in the remarks of both the Governor and the State Coordinator.
