Former Corps Member Urges Urgent Rehabilitation of Obubra Orientation Camp
Asiwaju Busari Shaamsuddeen Akande, who served in Cross River State during the 1998/1999 Batch C service year, has called on the state government and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to act swiftly to rehabilitate the permanent orientation camp in Obubra Local Government Area, following the suspension of corps members’ posting to the facility.
Akande expressed deep concern over the camp’s deteriorating condition. Built to accommodate 2,500 corps members, it now struggles to house even 1,000. He attributed the decline to years of neglect and a lack of maintenance.
“The failure to carry out regular maintenance and annual project development has led to the facility’s prolonged decline,” he noted.
He urged the authorities to treat the suspension as a wake-up call and an opportunity to upgrade infrastructure across the state.
A Service Year That Shaped a Life
Akande spoke warmly of his experience, saying the orientation camp played a vital role in his national service journey. The service year, he said, helped him build lasting friendships with indigenes of Cross River State and with people from other parts of the country.
During his service, he was posted to Ugep, a community in Yakurr Local Government Area. There he took an active part in community development and helped produce a drama film aimed at challenging negative stereotypes about the local people.
His efforts earned him recognition from the NYSC state headquarters, as well as repeated invitations over the years to return to the Obubra camp as a motivational speaker. He also worked at Vision International School in Ugep, which retained him for three years after his service ended, and he continued to contribute to community activities.
Support for Temporary Relocation
Akande commended the temporary relocation of orientation activities to Akamkpa Local Government Area, describing it as important for sustainable development in public infrastructure.
Asiwaju Busari Shaamsuddeen is the secretary to the Council of the Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership in the United States of America.
