By Kayode Animashaun
The National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, has described as obsolete and old, facilities at the orientation camp at Ikare-Akoko, in Akoko North East local government area of Ondo state., urging the state government to execute its renovation as soon as possible.
The NYSC Coordinator in Ondo state, Mr. Sam Pepple stated this while addressing newsmen in Akure the Ondo state capital in preparation for the orientation Programme for the 2024 Batch ‘B’ Stream I Corps members deployed to the state.
The orientation course commenced today, Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
Pepple described the facilities at the camp as old as the state itself, urging the state government to assist the scheme towards building a modern facilities for corps members to have a memorable stay at the camp.
Pepple said, “You know Ondo state is one of the oldest states in Nigeria. I can tell you that the facilities in that camp are old without mincing words, let’s say it the it is. They are very old and I am just new here but I know.
“I am trying to talk to with the state government because provision of Orientation Camp is the statutory duty of state governments as enshrined in the NYSC Act. I am trying to let them know and see”.
“During the last camp, I took the new commissioner for youth development and sports, Saka Yusuf Ogunleye round the camp to see how old the camp is so that the state government can come in and start to see if they can do some refurbishing and let’s see how it is. It is really an old camp but that is what we have at the moment.”
Mr Pepple however disclosed that adequate security measures had been put in place to protect corps members during the orientation period.
He said: “We’ve talked with security agencies, mapping the routes prospective corps members will follow. So, we’ve done our home work like we always do.
“I’ve been interacting with the Director of DSS, the state Commissioner of Police, the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Ondo State Security Network Agency codename Amotekun Corps.
“Besides, we just came back from pre-orientation workshop. Before we start an orientation programme, a relation course will first take place before we start mobilisation process.
“After the mobilisation process, we do deployment, after the deployment, we do pre-orientation. So, we do pre-mobilisation which involves workshop and cutting all grey areas.
“We now come to pre-orientation proper, that is to say, you are ready for the orientation. They call it workshop but for me, it’s more than that.
“At this stage, all the collaborating agencies, including NYSC staff, security agencies and others, will set strategies and modalities ahead of the orientation camp. That is exactly what we’ve done and everything is ready to ensure a successful orientation camp.”
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