Thousands of male and female corps members, belonging to the 2021 Batch B Stream II, over the weekend, passed out in Ogun State. At the low-key passing-out ceremony held outside the main bowl of the M.K.O Abiola International Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, the corps members filed out into different groups to collect their discharge certificates from designated officials.
The corps members, who started arriving at the M.K.O. Abiola Stadium foyer as early as 7.am from the 21 local council areas of the state, were promptly attended to by officials of the scheme as they arrived at the event that was devoid of the traditional fanfare.
The State Coordinator, Mrs. Winifred Shokpeka, and the full complement of the NYSC staff in the state were on hand as the corps members presented their terminal clearance and identification cards in exchange for their discharge certificates.
However, despite instructions to be properly dressed, some corps members that were not properly dressed were ordered to do so before being attended to.
However, one of the side attractions of the low-key passing out parade was the attendance of expectant and nursing female corps members whose babies were dressed in the NYSC khaki tops, crests, vests and trousers.
An official, who pleaded anonymity, frowned at this development and instructed affected nursing mothers to dress the babies appropriately, saying it negated the NYSC scheme that did not make provision for such.
Besides, the official informed Sunday INDEPENDENT that some corps members had service extensions for offences ranging from absenteeism and abscondment, among others.
In an interview with Sunday INDEPENDENT, some of the corps members that shunned the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Programme (SAED) and others that failed to follow up after orientation camp, prayed to God for divine intervention in their search for white-collar jobs.
The National Youth Service Corps Year comprises four main segments in which every Corps member must satisfactorily participate before he or she would be qualified to be issued a certificate of National Service. (Independent)