The Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, Mrs Rosemary Akuagbaogu, has appealed to Governor Umo Eno to urgently renovate the NYSC orientation camp in the state, warning that deteriorating facilities pose a serious risk to the welfare and safety of corps members.

Mrs Rosemary Akuagbaogu, the Akwa Ibom NYSC Coordinator, raised the alarm on Friday during the swearing in ceremony of 2026 Batch A Stream II corps members at Nsit Antai Local Government Area, calling on Governor Umo Eno to urgently fulfil a renovation pledge he made in 2025.

"All hostel blocks are in a deplorable state, characterised by leaking roofs, collapsed ceilings, broken doors and torn mosquito nets. Notably, one of the hostels is completely without a roof. The situation has made it increasingly difficult to safely accommodate the large numbers of corps members deployed to the state," Akuagbaogu stated.

She warned that the approaching rainy season had further compounded conditions at the camp, making the welfare and safety of corps members a matter of serious concern. The coordinator formally requested the governor's urgent intervention to address the accommodation deficit and protect the wellbeing of serving corps members.

"I humbly solicit your Excellency's urgent intervention to address these challenges as soon as possible to enhance accommodation capacity and ensure the welfare and safety of corps members," she appealed.

Despite the infrastructure concerns, Akuagbaogu acknowledged the governor's existing welfare package for corps members and felicitated with him on his 62nd birthday.

Governor Eno, represented at the ceremony by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Dr Ekerete Ekanem, urged the newly sworn in corps members to take full advantage of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme to build at least one marketable skill during their service year.

He charged them to become job creators rather than job seekers and to contribute meaningfully to national unity by bridging societal gaps and fostering understanding across communities.

The oath of allegiance was administered by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete Obot, represented by Justice Edem Akpan.