Mr. Eddy Megwa, Lagos Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), on Tuesday said he was looking forward to the signing of the NYSC Trust Fund Bill into law.
According to him, the fund will go a long way to provide resources for the NYSC to empower corps members when they finish the one-year mandatory service year, such that they can have the capital to start off their own businesses.
Megwa spoke at the swearing-in of 2,245 corps members of 2022 Batch A, Stream 1, held on Tuesday at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Iyana-Ipaja, Agege, Lagos.
While commending the House of Representatives on progress recorded on the NYSC Trust Fund bill which has scaled through the first, second reading, and public hearing, he solicited for speed up of the process.
“The NYSC Trust Fund Bill into law is a big thing that we are expecting to happen in the scheme; we are, therefore, appealing to the National Assembly to speed up the process.
“We are hoping that very soon it will be a reality, and when it is done, we will ensure that NYSC will be a point for the youth to start their own businesses, be generating their own income, and add their quota to the nation’s GDP.
“It will also be a veritable ground for NYSC to expand its coast, rebuilding all its infrastructure including orientation camps, to comfortably accommodate an increasing number of corps members being mobilized nationwide.
“The carrying capacity of orientation camps is very low and the number of graduates from higher institutions is increasing, thus, our vision is to have at least 5000 carrying capacity,” he said.
The NYSC Lagos Coordinator disclosed that 546 corps members deployed to Lagos State for the orientation program were dislodged to Oyo and Ogun States respectively as a result of inadequate accommodations.
He reiterated the appeal to the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to give priority to the ongoing building project of the NYSC permanent orientation camp in Agbowa, Ikorodu.
“We really need in earnest, completion of our permanent orientation campsite; out of the 2,245 posted here in Lagos, 236 in Oyo and 310 in Osun States,” he added.
On the sideline, Megwa charged the corps members to resolve to discover themselves and raise self-esteem and ensure that they are better citizens at the end of the orientation program.
He urged the corps members to take cognizance of the wordings of the oath they took and abide accordingly.
“See this period as a time of perseverance, tolerance, and work as a team.
“I expect from you all total commitment, resilience, determination, self-discovery, selfless service, and the readiness to serve your fatherland toward the development of the City of Excellence and nation-building,” he added.
