Representative of Rivers State Governor and Permanent Secretary, office of the SSG, Promise Oguzie(second left), Rivers State NYSC Coordinator, Moses Oleghe (second right) and others at the ceremony.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has approved a new state allowance of ₦35,000 for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving outside Port Harcourt City and Obio-Akpor local government areas, while those posted to the two urban councils will receive ₦20,000.
The Rivers State NYSC Coordinator, Moses Oleghe, disclosed this on Tuesday during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Batch C Stream I orientation course at the NYSC permanent orientation camp in Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area.
Oleghe commended Fubara for approving and immediately implementing the new allowance, describing the initiative as a measure to discourage parents and guardians from lobbying for their children to be posted to urban centres.
A total of 3,280 corps members, comprising 1,380 males and 1,900 females, successfully completed the three-week orientation programme.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Bureau, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Promise Oguzie, Fubara urged the corps members to embrace selfless and responsible service, describing it as a debt they owed Nigerians.
He charged them to integrate seamlessly into their host communities by respecting local cultures and traditions, serving as role models and contributing solutions to community problems rather than creating them.
The governor also urged the corps members to take the post-camp Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme seriously, saying it would equip them with the capacity to create wealth and become employers of labour.
In his farewell address, Oleghe praised the corps members for their resilience and commitment throughout the orientation exercise, noting that they had developed a stronger sense of participation in nation-building and teamwork.
He urged them to put Nigeria first in their conduct and responsibilities, while encouraging them to serve as worthy ambassadors of the NYSC scheme at their respective places of primary assignment.
The state coordinator also expressed appreciation to security agencies and other stakeholders for their support in ensuring the successful conduct of the orientation exercise.