By Isa Isawade

Osun State Governor, Sen. Ademola Adeleke on Friday pledged that his administration would continue to support the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme in Osun State in providing adequate welfare and safety for corps members in the state.

Adeleke made the promise at the swearing in and opening ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course for corps members deployed to Osun on Friday at Ede, Osun State.

“My government will continue to support the NYSC Scheme in the state in ensuring your welfare and safety during the service year,” the governor, whose address was read by Commissioner for Youths Affairs and Chairman, NYSC Osun State Governing Board, Olagunju Moshood Olalekan, said to the new corps members.

The governor commended the Scheme’s management at both national and state levels for the success of the programme and urged the corps members to abide by the rules and regulations of the Scheme. He thereafter declared the programme open.

“‎I want to commend the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General OO Nafiu and the NYSC family for being frontiers for peace, unity and development in the country. I duly acknowledge the bold and notable strides you have made in contributing your quota to the socio-economic development of the State and the country especially in the areas of education, rural health, infrastructure and agriculture.

“I further commend Mr. Ekeng Ita Kubiangha, the NYSC Coordinator in the State and his team, for your commitment toward the training of our graduate youths for a more productive and efficient service to the nation.
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“Dear Compatriots, I want you to know that your call to serve is a selfless and patriotic one geared towards nation building. The Government has entrusted the NYSC Scheme with the mandate of mobilising, training and empowering graduate youths with the requisite skills and mindset toward patriotic service, national integration and socio-economic development of our country.
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“I urge you therefore, to stay true to the National Pledge and Oath of Allegiance you swore to before witnesses today. Never take laws into your hands but always channel your grievances in a civilised and constitutionally acceptable way. Remember that the younger generation looks up to you as her role model. Therefore, shun any action capable of misinforming and misleading these young ones.
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“Furthermore, I implore you to embrace one another’s differences. Make friends and relate freely with one another cherishing and respecting your differences while diligently discovering your similarities. See and treat the person next to you as your brother and your sister and the people of the State as your family. Also, ensure that you abide by the rules and regulations of the camp as this will help you to make the most of your orientation experience,” Adeleke said.

‎The new members who were about 3,000 took the NYSC Oath of Allegiance, administered by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo at about 10:50 am.

The NYSC, Osun State Coordinator, ‎Ekeng Ita Kubiangha, congratulated the corps members for the successful mobilisation for the service year, emphasising that it was another phase in their lives and a great opportunity for self-development and actualisation, as well as contribution to national development on the platform of selfless service.
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‎”As you join the Scheme in the pursuit of a united, virile, egalitarian and economically prosperous nation, I enjoin you to approach this task with fervour, patriotism, service and humility.
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‎”My dear Corps Members, your mobilisation has not been by accident, but your discipline, diligence and resilience coupled with divine backing ensured your success in the various qualifying examinations from your various institutions, which gave you the ticket to be mobilised for the service year,” the coordinator added.
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‎Kubiangha informed the members that the NYSC Scheme was created to raise a crop of disciplined, detribalised and patriotic youths who would be posted to serve in states and communities other than their state of origin and also seek employment opportunities outside their states of origin, thereby fostering national unity and integration.
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‎These objectives, he said, are pursued through the four cardinal programmes of the Scheme, namely: the Orientation; Primary Assignment; Community Development Service; and the Winding-up/Passing out Programme.
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‎He also explained to the corps members that the regimented programme would last for three weeks and was designed to adequately equip them for the challenges that lie within and ahead of the service year and would expose them to the rudiments of national service.
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‎He urged them to work towards distinguishing themselves during the service year as the scheme has a system of rewarding hardwork and diligence.
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‎”There are several awards reserved for outstanding performance such as the State Coordinator’s commendation, Chairman’s Award, State Honours Award and the Presidential Award. Therefore, ensure you start distinguishing yourselves right from the orientation programme,” Kubiangha added.