The National Youths Service Corps Coordinator in Ekiti State, Mrs. Emmanuella Okpongete, said on Thursday that NYSC had sanctioned 25 erring corps members among the 2019 Batch A members in Ekiti State for absconding from service and absenteeism.

Okpongete, who said eight of the erring corps members would repeat the service year while the remaining had their service year extended, added, “We de-kitted three others who were not qualified to serve. We sent them away and the university that presented them has also been blacklisted for sending unqualified people”.

The NYSC coordinator, who spoke in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, during the passing-out-parade for 1,441 corps members who successfully completed their service year, said four of the outgoing corps members were honored for outstanding performance.

She said the four corps members were rewarded for executing laudable community development projects, saying “one of them set up a library in a school in Ikere Ekiti and one renovated a toilet at a maternity healthcare facility in Ikere Ekiti”.

According to her, “among landmarks of the outgoing corps members are sensitization projects, Agric extension projects in the villages and introduction of improved seedling for the farmers which resulted in high yields. We also honored a girl that did skill acquisition”.

Okpongete, who lauded the outgoing corps members for their spirit of discipline, selfless service, the industry at work, humility and dedication, said, “They had contributed in the areas of education, health and socio-economic development of Ekiti State”.

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who conferred the “prestigious Ekiti State Honour’s Award” on the corps members who were adjudged outstanding, lauded NYSC, which he said, “has continued to show its doggedness towards developing the urban and rural areas through social services, healthcare delivery, education, etc”.

Fayemi charged the outgoing corps members that “as able youths, you have a great stake in our nation because you are the future and the future belongs to you. Instead of joining the army of unemployed graduates, try your hands on productive ventures such as agriculture, manufacturing, buying and selling and rendering social services.

“Be innovative and a little additional touch will single you and your products out for good. Obtain loans for small or medium scale business and do not despise small beginnings. The skills you have acquired through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development of the NYSC should not be ignored”, the governor said.