N25bn Employment Fund: Ambode Promises Corps Members Start-up Capital
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has promised that all members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who distinguished themselves in their place of primary assignment in the state, will receive start-up capital.
Ambode has, equally, charged the corps members to participate in activities, which according to him, will affect the lives of the people at the grassroots positively and contribute to the socioeconomic advancement of host communities.
He gave the promise while addressing the corps members at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Iyana Ipaja recently during a parade to mark the formal closure of the 2017 Batch ‘B’ Orientation Course for all corps members deployed to Lagos State.
As indicated in an address he delivered at the parade, the State Coordinator of NYSC, Prince Mohammed Momoh disclosed that a total number of 2,549 corps members were registered to participate in the orientation exercise.
Specifically, Momoh commended the Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode for donating food items to the NYSC in the state during the orientation exercise and for personally coming the orientation camp to encourage and motivate all the corps members
At the parade, however, Ambode charged all the corps members to be involved in community service and learn with keen interest a specific vocation, noting that any corps member that acquired required vocational skill would receive start-up capital from the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF).
Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-governmental Relations, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo, urged the corps members to take seriously all trainings at the orientation camp and acquire at least a vocational skill of interest.
He said: “This will qualify you for a start-up capital from the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund. The Fund was established to provide financial support for qualified residents and members of the National Youth Service Corps serving in Lagos State. The objective of this initiative is to support young people to become job and wealth creators.
“That is exactly what our administration stands for. And our mission in government is to create a new army of employers. This explains why this administration established a N25 billion Employment Trust Fund. Already, we have been getting results. I, therefore, urge you to take advantage of this opportunity.”
On this note, the governor explained the significance of the induction course for the corps members, describing it as a foundation for national service, which he said, would equip them with high sense of commitment, dedication and discipline throughout the orientation course.
He urged the corps members “to be diligent, dedicated and law abiding in the discharge of their duties. All corps members should exhibit qualities i.e. tolerance, patriotism, diligence and perseverance learnt during the orientation course in places of their primary assignment.
“I have no doubt that the orientation course has adequately prepared you for the next phase of your service year in which you are expected to exhibit good qualities like tolerance, patriotism, diligence and perseverance in your various place of primary assignment.”