*Plateau Gov assures conducive environment for NYSC batch B corps members
WorldStage Newsonline– The National Youth Service Corps has assured that it would enforce strict compliance with all safety guidelines endorsed by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 pandemic and National Centre for Disease Control in all its Orientation Camps across the country.
It said since the outbreak of the virus in the country, the Scheme has not recorded any case among its Corps Members and staff.
NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim in his keynote address at the 2020 Batch ‘B’ Pre-Orientation Workshop with the theme, “Evolving a Dynamic Operational Strategy in the Management of Camps in the Context of COVID-19” in Jos, Plateau State said Management would continue to evaluate the conduct of Orientation Course as well as restrategise towards enhancing its success due to its critical role as a launch pad for the Service Year.
General Ibrahim added that though the pandemic posed challenges to the socio-economic activities in the country and the rest of the world, the NYSC Scheme, being a dynamic organisation remained visible, especially through complementary contributions of Corps Members at containing the pandemic.
“Management is committed to ensuring that no camp records outbreak of the virus.
The 2020 Batch ‘A’ Stream One Orientation Course was suspended abruptly on the 18th of March, 2020 to avoid the outbreak of COVID-19 in the Orientation Camps.
In line with the current realities, our approach to the conduct of the forthcoming Orientation Course will focus on proper induction of Corps Members on core ideals of the Scheme, with equal attention paid to the approved safety protocols”, he stated.
General Ibrahim further urged the workshop participants to fashion out other strategies for the successful conduct of the forthcoming Orientation Course.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that an environment that is conducive is crucial to the success of the Orientation programme, and indeed the entire Service Year.
Management considers as highly commendable, the improvements in camp development in some states”, General Ibrahim said.
The Director-General appealed to State Governments to discharge their statutory responsibilities of upgrading and expanding camp facilities to adequately serve the increasing Corps population.
Menawhile, Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State has promised an enabling environment for all Corps Members that would be deployed to the State for the 2020 Batch ‘B’ Service Year.
He also sympathised with the NYSC family over the recent looting of some of its Orientation Camps by hoodlums,
In a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Adenike Adeyemi, said the governor disclose this on Thursday in Jos while declaring open the 2020 Batch ‘B’ Pre – Orientation Workshop with theme; ” Evolving A Dynamic Operational Strategy In The Management of Camps In The Context of COVID – 19.”
The governor said the workshop has provided a forum for critical stakeholders to appraise the performance of the NYSC previous Orientation Exercises with a view to strengthening the upcoming ones.
He further Governor commended NYSC Management for its active support to the Government in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining that it is a worthwhile venture.
Governor Lalong said, “The Scheme opened its Orientation Camps across the country as quarantine and isolation centres. Here in Plateau State, the Orientation Camp in Mangu was very helpful in our battle against the virus. I appeal to everyone to avoid complacency in observing COVID-19 protocols.
“I also urge NYSC Management to continue with the Entrepreneurship Development Training for Corps Members as it is a gateway to self reliance”.
Meanwhile, the Governor urged the workshop participants to strategise towards ensuring the safety of the incoming Corps Members.
In his welcome address, NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim disclosed that as a dynamic organisation that is committed to excellence, the Scheme is poised to address emerging challenges in its preparations for the forthcoming Orientation Exercise.
He added that all its 37 Orientation Camps have been prepared and remodelled in line with approved COVID-19 safety protocols.
“We will further evolve strategies that will, among other things, guarantee the safety of Corps Members, camp officials, as well as other members of the camp community throughout the duration of the Orientation Course”, General Ibrahim said.
He further stated that all camp participants for the 2020 Batch “B” Orientation Course would be tested for COVID-19.
“I also express our immense gratitude to the NCDC for the donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worth millions of Naira for usage in the Orientation Camps which will enhance the success of our collective efforts towards ensuring the safe conduct of the Orientation Course”, the DG concluded.
