By Peter Okutu

ABAKALIKI—GOVERNOR David Umahi of Ebonyi State, Thursday, assured corps members posted to the state of adequate security throughout their service year, charging them to maintain the objectives of the corps.

He stated this during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2018 Batch B corps members at the Old Macgregor Secondary School permanent orientation camp in Afikpo North local Government Area of the state.

The governor further charged the corps members to follow the footsteps of their predecessors whom he noted had served the state so diligently and contributed in its development especially in the areas of heath, education and agriculture.

Umahi was represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Charles Akpuenika.

Mr Umahi said the state government has approved the sum of N1m for the four best performing Corpsmembers in the last graduating batch.

He also revealed that his administration has mapped out 50 hectares of land to be given to the NYSC in the state to use for mechanised farming.

The State Coordinator of the Service, Mrs Ann Ngozika Ibe charged the corpse members to use the service year to promote peace, unity and integration of the country.

“Let me make it clear to you that the attainment of the much-needed unity and integration of the country Nigeria, rests squarely on the shoulders of the educated youths like you who are the beacon of a bright and prosperous future for all Nigerians”.

“Be informed too that the nation’s quest to deepen the foundation of her democracy, good governance and the restoration of our cherished positive societal values are in your hands as the successor generation. In view of the foregoing, you must play an active role in ensuring that the nation remains indivisible and indissoluble by emphasizing the merits in our togetherness and unity as Nigerians more than anything else”, she said.

The state Chief Judge, Justice Alloy Nwankwo represented by Justice Benson Ogbu later swore in the 2200 new members into the Service Corps.

Of the number, 1211 are men while 989 are females and were drawn from all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory  Abuja