Governor Umo Eno has charged corps members deployed to Akwa Ibom to reject ethnic and religious discrimination, describing national diversity as a source of strength and urging them to promote unity.
Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has urged members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployed to the state to shun ethnic and religious discrimination and embrace the country’s diversity throughout their service year.
Eno gave the charge on Friday during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II corps members at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Ikot Itie Udung, Nsit Atai Local Government Area.
The governor, who was represented by the Director of Youth Development in the Ministry of Youth Development, Emmanuel Akpabio, urged the corps members to demonstrate patriotism and remain committed to national unity and development.
The governor described the NYSC orientation camp as a “mini Nigeria”, where young people from different parts of the country come together to serve.
He urged the corps members to regard Nigeria’s ethnic, religious, linguistic and cultural diversity as a source of strength and inspiration.
“As strategic stakeholders in the Nigerian project, your contributions must transcend ethnic, religious, linguistic, and socio-cultural boundaries,” Eno said.
He added that the country expected corps members to contribute fresh ideas and renewed hope toward building a better future.
Eno reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to the welfare of corps members and pledged continued support for the NYSC scheme.
He disclosed that rehabilitation work would soon commence on infrastructure at the orientation camp.
Earlier, the NYSC Coordinator in Akwa Ibom, Ngozi Akuagbaogu, disclosed that 1,579 corps members had successfully registered for the orientation exercise. The figure comprises 713 male and 866 female corps members.
Akuagbaogu urged the corps members to take advantage of the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, particularly in view of the country’s unemployment challenge.
She described SAED as one of the NYSC’s flagship programmes for equipping corps members with practical skills and encouraging entrepreneurship.
“Take the programme seriously by choosing a skill, and participate actively in all the training sessions,” she advised.
The NYSC coordinator also expressed concern over the condition of facilities at the orientation camp, describing the situation as a serious cause for concern.
She appealed to the state government to urgently intervene by renovating and upgrading the camp’s facilities. The ceremony ended with the administration of the oath of allegiance to the corps members by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete Obot.
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