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The Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has lauded the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for being instrumental to his becoming a detribalised Nigerian.
Speaking when the NYSC management and corps members in the state made surprise visit to his office to celebrate his birthday with him, Akeredolu said the scheme played a role in his decision to marry from a tribe different from his.
“I am a strong beneficiary of the National Youth Service Corps programme because the scheme provided me with the opportunity to marry my beautiful angel who is from another geopolitical zone” he said.
The governor’s wife of over three decades, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu hails from Imo State. She is founder of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria.
He described the NYSC as a programme that has made great impact on Nigerian as a nation as it is evident in the inter-tribal marriage which he benefited from.
He said that without NYSC, he would not have been able to deeply understand another culture not to talk of marrying outside his kith and kinsmen.
Akeredolu, a member of the 1978/79 service year thanked the NYSC family for identifying with him on his birthday. He specifically mentioned that the cake presented to him indicated the reunion with NYSC family.
Promising to visit the NYSC orientation camp at Ikare-Akoko soon, Governor Akeredolu, promised to provide more canopies for the scheme to shade the corps members from the sun and heavy rains during their programmes and activities. He assured that his administration will continue to encourage local content tailored towards job creation for the teeming youth.
His words: “The materials we are using to make the blocks for the perimeter fence is 100% sourced locally including the block moulding machine. We experimented the process with the NYSC and now that we are confident of its quality and success rate, we shall replicate such in other areas of capacity building to give source of livelihood to our youths who are looking up to our administration for sustenance”.
Speaking earlier, the State Coordinator, Mrs. Grace Akpabio said that the visit was “to celebrate an icon and a leader who has shown great compassion on the scheme since his assumption of office two years ago.”
She thanked the governor for hosting the NYSC management nationwide during its 2018 Annual Management Conference which she said was adjudged to be the best in recent years by the then Director General, Major General Suleiman Zakare Kazaure’.
She reeled out the assistance received from the state government which included construction of perimeter fence at the orientation camp, release of brand new operational vehicles to the secretariat to enhance corps inspection and several others.
In attendance were the Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr. Joel Olushile Ale; Head of Service, Mr. Oluwadare Aragbaye; Commissioner for Information, Honourable Donald Ojogo; Special Adviser to the governor on Health Matters, Dr. Jibayo Adeyeye and one member from the First Family, Mr. Babajide Akeredolu.