The Lagos State Government on Friday promised to build a befitting orientation camp for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
“I can assure you that at the appropriate time, hopefully, by next year, it will be captured in the state’s budget,’’ Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode said at the swearing-in of the 2017 Batch ‘A’ Stream 2 corps members in Lagos.
The event held at the NYSC temporary orientation camp, Lagos.
The governor was represented by the state Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr Seye Badejo.
According to Ambode, accommodation for corps members has been of great concern to the state government.
“You will agree with me that there are a whole lot of projects in the state currently jostling for attention.
“Things have to be properly put in place; we have to get appropriate allocation.
“It is not like we do not hold the scheme in high esteem; the issue (orientation camp) is currently receiving attention.
“We can assure you that it is in our front burner and, with time, we will do it,’’ the governor said.
Ambode said that the NYSC scheme remained relevant and would continue to receive the support of the state government `because all hands must be on deck to achieve the aims of the founding fathers of the scheme’.
The governor commended the management of the scheme in the state for initiating skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development programmes aimed at making corps members self-reliant after service.
Lagos State Coordinator of NYSC, Prince Mohammed Momoh said that necessary amenities such as power and water had been made available in the temporary orientation camp.
Momoh said that the Bank of Industry (BOI) would open a desk during the orientation to enlighten corps members on various self-reliant programmes.
“The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund is also coming to sensitise the corps member to the processes and proceedings of getting empowered through the fund,” he added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of 2,722 corps members, comprising of 757 males and 1,965 females, registered for the orientation. (NAN)