By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu/ Umar Sumayah
Lagos State Government says the outgoing State Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs Yetunde Baderinwa, has set a high standard for her successor to emulate.
Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende, made the remark at the send forth party/book launch organised by staffers of the state directorate on Thursday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Baderinwa is the 23rd Lagos State Coordinator of NYSC, and was recently redeployed to a higher position at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja.
NAN reports that Baderinwa, a native of Ile-Oluji in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, is succeeded by Mrs Christiana Salmwang.
Ogunlende said the state government trusted that Baderinwa would also replicate excellence in her new role.
He said that he was, however, not surprised at the outgoing coordinator’s promotion, adding that anyone that had been able to attain this position in Lagos could only soar to greater heights.
“The state government is happy and excited for you, Baderinwa.
“You are someone that I admire because you have grown from a stakeholder in progress to a sister, and I can only wish you the best.
“I can only continue to pray for guidance, wisdom and God’s protection for you.
“Baderinwa, you have also set a high bar in Lagos that has made us to also welcome the new state coordinator heartily and pledged our support for her.
“You have always been family in Lagos State. You came, you saw and you have conquered. So, we trust that you will do the same in your new role,” he said.
The commissioner said that Baderinwa’s transfer came earlier than anticipated, but, again, it was to show how dedicated, hardworking and focused she was as an individual, so he was not surprised.
Ogunlende thanked the NYSC management for deeming her capable of fitting into the big role.
He encouraged her to continue to be herself, adding that she was a shining star and the state would continue to celebrate her.
Also celebrating Baderinwa, the Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the authority had a long standing partnership with the state NYSC during her time.
Gbadegesin said she had been supportive of LAWMA in the last few weeks as she posted some corp members to the agency, because they were needed to strengthen its activities.
Speaking, Mrs Yetunde Baderinwa, the outgoing Lagos State Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), said she was grateful for the love and cooperation of the Lagos NYSC workforce.
She said: “I did not know anything about the send-off. But see how people just showed up. To say happy is an understatement.
“I urge the staff to be good, fair, kind and to have a human heart, because what they need to deal with individuals at their workplace is for them to be able to listen.”
Baderinwa said the book that was launched at the send-off was a compendium of all the successes recorded during the period she was state coordinator.
The outgoing state coordinator said that she had been unaware that she had accomplished so much during her tenure as the state coordinator.
She said that it was when she started seeing the records that she realised they had actually achieved a lot.
The erstwhile state coordinator noted that she couldn’t have achieved much without the support of her teammates.
Baderinwa urged corps members to be patriots and good ambassadors of the national project at their respective places of primary assignments.
“The NYSC is an enduring national institution which demonstrates government’s commitment to building the future of Nigerian youths for growth and development.
“I charge you as you go to your primary assignments to put the country first and the community you will serve next. Whether you are posted to an urban centres or the remote villages, the call to service is the same.
“I urge you to imbibe the culture of service, and impact the communities, societies and companies where you will serve. I urge you to build networks that will endure beyond the service year.
“Also, ensure that at the end of the service year, you can look back and confidently tell yourself that it’s been a fruitful year,” she said. (NAN)