Ikpeazu Urged to Save Corps Members from Windstorm Menace

Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia

Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has been urged to take urgent steps to save members of the National Youth Service Corps deployed to the state from the danger posed by windstorm at their permanent orientation camp located at Umunna in Bende Local Government Area.

The state Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs. Francesca Ifon made the passionate appeal during the opening/swearing ceremony of 2017 Batch ‘A’ Stream II orientation course for 2,120 corps members deployed to Abia.

She appealed to Governor Ikpeazu who represented at the ceremony by his deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu that the threat of windstorm was greatly endangering the lives of corps members.

In what appeared to be a distress call the state coordinator specifically cited a particular incident when a great windstorm uprooted the canopies during the closing ceremony of 2017 Batch ‘A’ Stream I orientation course .

“But for the intervention of the Almighty, this camp would have recorded an ugly incident,” she said, adding that the frightening incident occurred just as the governor’s address was being delivered by the deputy governor.

“May I therefore appeal at this juncture that something urgent be done to avert further danger to the lives of corps members and our guests during official ceremonies,” the state coordinator said.

While expressing NYSC appreciation for the “wonderful support” that Abia Government has given to the scheme, especially cash donations to augment the feeding of corps members and donation of a 100KVA power generating set, Ifon emphasised the urgent need to tackle the threat of windstorm.

She appealed to Governor Ikpeazu to consider the “urgent need” to rehabilitate the female hostel and reconstruct the parade pavilion in view of the fact that “we are now experiencing heavy downpour and thunderstorm.”

Governor Ikpeazu, whose speech was read by the deputy governor, assured that his administration “is resolutely committed to the welfare of the scheme and the provision of enabling environment for corps members to thrive.

He said that aside from solving the power problem in that orientation camp with the provision of the 100KVA generator, “we are also determined to renovate some damaged structures in the camp and do more within the limits of available resources.”
The Abia governor informed corps members that a lot of opportunities abound in their host state waiting to be tapped hence they should endeavour to acquire any skill of their choice during their service year.