NYSC Director Lauds Ayade For Renovation Works At C’River Orientation Camp
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Chiemeka ADINDU, Calabar
Following the renovation works going on at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State, NYSC South-South Area Director, Ayodele Omotade has commended the federal government and the Cross River state government for their intervention towards ensuring that the orientation camp is given a world class look.
Omotade who gave the commendation after his visit to the NYSC camp said it became imperative for the government to mediate as the orientation camp was collapsing. He said erosion had been one of the major challenges facing the orientation camp which compelled the federal government to commence an erosion control project to bring a lasting solution to the camp.
He added that the Cross River state government also responded to the numerous appeals by the NYSC by carrying out renovation works of some makeshift hostels and the expansion of the lecture hall.
“For me, holding orientation camp here at Obubra is very peculiar in the sense that we as management of the NYSC have been trying to get the attention of the state government towards carrying out rehabilitation at this place. Arriving at this place and meeting it as a huge construction site gladdens my heart because I know by the time all these beautiful constructions are done, the entire camp will be better. The huge construction site we are witnessing here is as a result of the commitment of the state government and an answer to a call we made to them.
“I must also try to differentiate because we have two projects going on here; the erosion control here signified by the landscaping and of course construction of roads is being handled by the federal government courtesy of the ecological fund office of the office of the secretary to the government of the federation.
“That is an intervention by NYSC and Cross River state happens to be among the very few ones and I’m sure this will be replicated in all camps. But, the issue of expansion of this hall where we use, last time I visited it was smaller than this; at least a sort of expansion has been carried out in this place and I can also observe a lot of buildings that have been touched by the state government.
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“I had an interface with the commissioner for youth who has the responsibility for the development of this camp shortly before my speech to the Corps Members and of course, I extracted a commitment that what we have witnessed on the part of the state government is just a phase one of the work to be done. Other phases are to be done and as I said, watch out for Cross River State orientation camp here, it can also get better,” Omotade explained.
The NYSC Director further appreciated the executive governor of the state for his prompt response, calling for further projects to be carried out at the camp for the comfort of the youths who will be deployed to the state for their national service. He said: “I need to also commend our very, very critical stakeholder at the state government because we sounded that call for intervention and they answered.
“The expansion of the hall and renovation of a few hostels are part of the phase one of the work to be carried out on camp and I think it’s just fitting to sincerely appreciate his Excellency the executive governor of Cross River state, Senator Professor Ben Ayade for heeding to our call for intervention on this camp and if the commitment I extracted from the honorable commissioner is set to go by
“I know that His Excellency is a man of his words; he will surely mobilize resources to ensure that every façade of the orientation camp is given a facelift. The hall and hostel that have been renovated are very befitting, so how wonderful will it be by the time the work is completed on the rehabilitation exercise.
Responding to the issues revolving around COVID-19 consciousness at the orientation camps, Omotade said, “The NYSC is a responsible organization and we thank God for this time having blessed us with the personality of the DG and the present crop of management. Recall that the orientation that we had in March was aborted because of the issue of COVID-19 and ever since that time, because of proactive nature and attitude of the DG and the management; we did not rest on our oars, Corps Members were engaged in various activities towards fighting the pandemic.
“ I’m sure you are aware of the fact that in every secretariat in this nation, thirty seven secretariats including the FCT; Corps Members were engaged in massive production of hand sanitizers, liquid soaps and of course face masks. And on top of that, many of them fabricated disinfection chambers, many of them fabricated sample collection boots and the aggregate efforts of management of the NYSC was what resulted in the positive consideration by the NCDC and PTF and of course the government in approving resumption of activities in the camp.”
