Edith CHUKU
For completing and inaugurating the third out of the five Corpers’ lodge he promised the National Youth Service Corps NYSC, in Rivers State, the Chairman of Tai Local Government Area, Mr. Mbakpone Friday Okpe, has been described as a visionary leader and trailblazer.
Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the People’s Democratic Party PDP in the state, Mr. Aaron Chukwuemeka, made this description while inaugurating the corpers’ lodge in Botem Community.
Aaron who was the special guest at the occasion explained that corps members are “special breed of educated youths capable of transforming a community and lifting them out of educational backwardness if well taken care of and given a conducive environment to thrive.”
The PDP boss who was represented by the caretaker secretary of the party, Dr. Benibo George, commended the council chairman for what he described as “his visionary leadership and people-oriented projects across the LGA and described him as a “trailblazer.”
Describing the inauguration of the third Corpers’ lodge as another day of immense joy for the NYSC family in the state, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mr. George Mfongang, thanked the LGA Chairman.
In his goodwill message, the NYSC coordinator described Okpe’s achievements with the building of Corpers’ lodges as unprecedented and the first of its kind nationwide by any Council Chairman.
Speaking further, the coordinator used the occasion to appeal to members of Botem community to ensure the safety and welfare of the Corps Members posted to them as well as ensure that the facilities in the lodge are not vandalized.
He concluded by assuring them of the posting of more Corps Members to the community to meet up the educational needs of the students.
In his part, the council boss explained that “my desire and passion to ensure quality education for students in the LGA has been my motivation in building the lodges, believing that Corps Members as role models and agents of positive change will help students in the Council to find a career path for themselves because education is power.
“I was always disheartened and disillusioned in the past when Corps Members posted to communities in the LGA couldn’t stay to serve because of lack of accommodation.
“With five Corps lodges in the LGA the issue of lack of accommodation has become a thing of the past. The remaining two lodges will be completed and inaugurated in few weeks to come.
“With this development, I am convinced that Corps Members will stay on the ground and ensure effective teaching and learning amongst students in the Council.”
Recall that the Tai LGA chairman had promised to build corpers’ lodge at Nonwa, Bunu, Botem, Seme and Gogo communities. With the inauguration, Okpe has completed and inaugurated the lodges at Nonwa, Bunu and Botem, with the promise of completing and inaugurating the remaining Seme and Gogo lodges in the weeks ahead.
The inaugurated Botem Community lodge was reported to consist of “eight rooms self-contained’ bungalow with a big kitchen equipped with gas cooker and deep freezer, a common room with a DSTV subscribed television, rooms furnished with beds, pillows, wardrobes, reading tables and chairs, a borehole with water tank and a standby generator as alternate source of power.”
The inauguration was attended by traditional rulers, security agencies, religious leaders, women groups, opinion leaders, stakeholders, youth groups, corps members and prominent personalities within and outside Botem community.
