Corps member dies in auto crash, others recount experiences in Nasarawa about 11 hours ago • Colleague builds N4.5m lodge in Ekiti • Amaechi lauds youth service in Rivers • Ajimobi urges skills acquisition TRAGEDY struck Thursday at Eggon Local Council of Nasarawa State when a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member died in an auto crash while on his way to Lafia the state capital to partake in the passing out parade. Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Government has applauded the initiative of a youth corps member, Mr. Dominic Akpan for building an eight-bedroom apartment at the cost of N4.5 million to serve as corpers lodge in Omuooke-Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Council. Also, Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi lauded the 2012 corps members for their contributions to the socio- economic landscape of the state. Governor Abiola Ajimobi urged the corps members serving in Oyo State to take special advantage of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurial Development programmes recently introduced by the scheme to enable them stand on their own at the end of their service year. The late corps member was said to have boarded a vehicle from Karu Local Council, which shares borders with Abuja, alongside some of his colleagues. But he could not make it to the event as the cold hands of death snatched his life. His colleagues were said to have been critically injured and were rushed to a hospital for medical attention. State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs. Olabanji confirmed the development but declined to give the name of the deceased, saying she was making efforts to contact his family before further details would be released. Some of the corps members who recounted their experiences in the state expressed regret over alleged hardship and neglect they experienced in the hands of authorities concerned with their plight. The porous security situation in the state was also of concern, as those whose place of primary assignment fell under the crises- ravaged areas thanked God for keeping them alive. One of them, a female who identified herself as Buki, bemoaned the attitude of the authorities, citing neglect when they were evacuated from areas affected by the crises, particularly those who fled from Obi Local Council. “We were brought to Lafia when the warring youths invaded our homes, but thank God for sparing our lives,” she said. She also lamented the difficulty they went through in securing accommodation for themselves since the authorities neglected them. At least 1,270 corps members passed out at the parade in Lafia yesterday with the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Agama Weibey calling on them to be of good conduct in the outside world. The Guardian gathered that contrary to claims by the NYSC authorities that accommodation was provided for the fleeing corps members at it’s guest house in Lafia, the corps members said they sought refuge in the homes of “good spirited people” until they passed out yesterday. In Ekiti, Dominic, a graduate of Business Administration, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State who is from Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State said he decided to embark on the project because he found that there was no ‘corpers’ lodge in the local council and also for the love the community extended to youth corps members. Dominic, who valued the building at N4.2 million, thanked the community for assisting him with cash and building materials to execute the project. According to him, “when I drafted my proposal, some of my colleagues thought I was mad, but I was determined. The first person that pledged to support me with N2,000 did not fulfill it, yet I was not discouraged. I thank the community, especially the traditional ruler, Oba Valentine Otitoju and various professional associations in Omuooke-Ekiti who offered their services without collecting a dime.” Governor Amaechi gave the commendation while addressing the 2012 Batch ‘C’ corps members at the Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt, during the passing-out ceremony of 3,431 corps members yesterday. He said from all indications, the distinguished service of the corps members has greatly impacted on the socio economic landscape of the state. According to him, their pivotal place in the state’s quest for sustainable development is borne out by the noteworthy contributions all the corps members made through the community development services of the scheme, such as the effective campaign against HIV/AIDS, implementation of various aspects of the MDGs programme, mass literacy programme, legal aid, healthcare delivery and charity. Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Moses Alake -Adeyemo at the ceremony held at Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, also counseled the corps members to imbibe the spirit of hardwork, industry and honesty. “Let the various forms of experience garnered during the one year service programme guide you in the pursuit of life’s goals. On this, I want to charge you to grab all the opportunities provided by the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurial Development programmes introduced by the scheme. The programme is tailored towards empowering corps members to become self-employed and employers of labour.”