Nigerian youths will shine anywhere in the world if given the right opportunity as they have capacities to match their peers all over the world. President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who stated this yesterday, stressed that “Nigerian leaders must do everything humanly possible to give the youth that opportunity which they had enjoined so that they (youths) can also excel.” Saraki, who spoke at Yikpata, Kwara state orientation camp of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), said “many Nigerian leaders have excelled because they have the right opportunity, adding: “Most of you will shine if we give you that opportunity; we shall do everything to ensure that your future is bright.”
He had visited the NYSC orientation camp to commiserate with corps members over the death of their colleague, Miss Hilda Amadi Ichechukwu. Not satisfi ed with the state of the camp, Saraki said there was “a definite need for government to improve upon the medical and other facilities in the camp.”
Lamenting the demise of Ichechukwu, Saraki said “Nigerian youths can match their counterparts anywhere in the world in terms of creativity and government must do everything to ensure they fulfil their dreams.”
He, however, argued that the development, or the absence of suitable facilities at NYSC camps across the country were not enough reasons to review the scheme which he noted was a “valuable asset to Nigeria.” Saraki said the clinic, hostel facilities, kitchen, and other components of the camp were in dire need of expansion and rehabilitation and promised to ensure that the fencing of the camp was started and completed in time to further improve security at the camp. “Coming here always brings good memories because as governor of the state, I had occasions to be here and I had cultivated a special relationship with this camp.
Thus, when I heard of the unfortunate incident, I felt bad and decided to come and condole with you.
We must take up the responsibility of doing more to ensure this type of thing doesn’t happen again and that every NYSC is of good memories for each of you.
This should not be a place of endurance but a place you should be happy to have been to, something that will impact on your life even after here. “We have the responsibility to improve your condition and I have gone around and seen things for myself and identified the areas where we need to intervene such as the kitchen, hostels etc.
Times are hard but we have a great country that has potentials. You have capacities to match any young people in the world and we must give you that opportunity. Most of you will shine if we give you that opportunity; we shall do everything to ensure that your future is bright,” he said. Earlier, the state Director of the NYSC, Mr. Amaefule Remigius, described the late Miss Amadi as “a young lady, full of life, intelligent, beautiful and very active in all camp activities while alive.”
Remigius also revealed that the state government had provided 300 mattresses, 150 bunk beds and 300 plastic chairs to the camp, while the NYSC DirectorGeneral provided 200 doublebunk beds and 400 mattresses.
