National Youth Service Corp in Akwa Ibom would soon commence the construction of its permanent Secretariat in the state, courtesy of a N50 million lifeline by the state government.

Governor Godswill Akpabio who announced the donation Thursday during the official swearing-in ceremony of 2015 Batch `A’ Corps members at NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikot Itie Udung in Nsit Atai Local Government Area, said the money should be used to commence the laying of foundation and block work.

Akpabio, who was responding to the state NYSC Coordinator’s request for the state government to complement the effort of the scheme since Akwa Ibom Ministry of Lands and Surveys had allocated land to the scheme for the building of its permanent secretariat, further announced a donation of ambulance to the NYSC.

He used the forum to sympathise with NYSC over a corps member, who drowned recently at Ibeno Beach, and warned others going on excursion to refrain from swimming in the Atlantic Ocean but can go on sight-seeing to avoid the occurrence of such a disaster.

The governor, who later read an address by President Goodluck Jonathan, lauded the NYSC scheme for its patriotic response to national call and enjoined the corps members to learn indigenous language of their host communities to enable them to get assimilated to the culture of the place.

President Jonathan said in the past 42 years, the scheme has exposed millions of youths to different parts of the country and called on Nigerians to keep faith with the scheme.

The Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Monday Ebong Uko also congratulated the corps members on the successful completion of their studies that culminated in the official swearing-in ceremony, saying that different employers and communities were waiting for them.

Uko, who noted that the state government has interest in the scheme and that was why the government completed a pavilion in addition to providing other amenities, urged the corps members to refrain from immorality, cultism and alcoholism, among others but avail themselves with rich culture of the place they serve.

Earlier, the state NYSC Coordinator, Lady Ngozi Chukwuka had congratulated the corps members on their successful swearing-in ceremony and announced the registration of 2,200 members made up of 1,229 males and 901 females.

Mrs. Chukwuka commended the governor for his unalloyed support to the scheme especially increment of corpers state allowance, giving meal subsidy to corps members during orientation, provision of pavilion and donation of Hilux van, appealing for the donation of ambulance vehicle and development of their permanent secretariat.

•Photo shows Governor Godswill Akpabio receiving a portrait from Akwa Ibom State NYSC Coordinator, Lady Ngozi Chukwuka during the official swearing-in of Batch A Corps Members in Akwa Ibom State. The State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr. Monday Uko (middle) watches.

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