Another Youth Collapse During Ooni Of Ife's Speech, Ooni Says He Fathered a Child At 19

Another corps member has slumped at the National Youth Service Corps Orientation Camp in Ede, Osun State.

The corps member slumped on Monday when the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, was addressing corps members at the camp.

During his speech, the Ooni mourned the three corps members who died recently at various camps in three states, including Miss Ifedolapo Oladepo, an indigene of Ila Orangun in Osun State who died in Kano orientation late November.

The Ooni prayed for the bereaved families, while urging corps members to be their brothers’ keepers by relating well with one another.

The Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Lawal, was also present as the Ooni addressed the youths on Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneur Development.

However, not long after he started, one of the corps members slumped and was rushed to the clinic where she was promptly treated.

One of the corps members who stood next to the sick corps member said his colleague slumped probably due to exhaustion.

One of the NYSC officials who rushed to the clinic to check the corps members told our correspondent some minutes later that the lady had left the clinic after treatment.

A member of the Red Cross also confirmed to a Punch correspondent that the sick corps member had been treated and discharged.

The Ooni, who said his daughter was one of the corps members deployed in Abuja, said he was happy to be in the midst of the youths, urging them to focus on their dreams and rely on God for guidance.

He said, “I made up my mind that I would be an entrepreneur. I was selling rice and sugar.

“At the age of 19, I fathered a child, which made the matter more complicated. Life was very tough because I had to cater for my child; but that made me to work harder.

“Today, I am very proud to say that she is one of the present batch of corps members in Abuja now. That experience shaped by life and made me to keep striving.

“I started going to Benue to bring yam tubers, which I turned to yam powder. I want to encourage you today, whatever you are selling or doing, do it with zeal.

“I met Aliko Dangote and Dr. Deji Adeleke and other successful people right inside the market where I was selling foodstuff. I used my background to redefine the way I was selling the stuff.”

He advised the corps members not to be disappointed in Nigeria and the leadership of the country but to join hands to work together for the development of the nation.

The Coordinator of the NYSC in Osun State, Mrs. Regina Iluebbey, said the NYSC devised SAED programme in order to address the problem of youth unemployment.

He urged the corps members to put what they had learnt into practice even after their orientation programme.

The corps members presented some of their products such as furniture, organic fertiliser, fruits and others to the monarchs.

Source: Punch