Corps members serving in Ondo State, especially at the various government ministries, departments and agencies have been charged to be productive and engage themselves in ventures that will add value to their lives, workplace and the state.

The state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Wale Akinlosotu, gave the task during an interactive session with the youth corps members, serving in the ministry.

Akinlosotu, who said the session became imperative, following his determination to hit the ground running at the ministry and ensure that all the categories of staff, were carried along and streamlined into the new normal of the ministry.

While admonishing the corps members to make themselves available for tasks, the Commissioner charged them to be punctual, diligent and regular at work.

He stressed that the essence of their service year was not for punitive measures, but rather to train them, allow them keep in touch with reality in order to prepare them ahead of life outside the service year.

The Commissioner, who through the engagement identified the various budding talents and skills inherent in each of the corps members, asked them to form a team with concepts that can be showcased to the world.

Akinlosotu promised to give them the needed support, charging them to work with their departmental directors and let their creative ideas translate to reality, by starting with an in-house performance by March, this year.

According to him, “You need to have discipline to succeed. When you provide value, you will be successful. Success is abstract but when you add value to something, then, you’re successful.

“Dedication to duty is also very important; we are inspecting you now, so that we can get the right positive output that we are expecting from you.

“Think outside the box, go to the junkyard, do whatever you need to do, to make it happen.”

Speaking to the corps members, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Boladale Akinyanmi, advised them to make use of the opportunity provided by the ministry to serve their fatherland, adding that they did not necessarily have to go through the rope of the civil service, before they make impactful contributions to the society.

She urged them to be responsible enough, without abusing the opportunity given them, for the sake of others coming behind them.

Speaking earlier, each of the corps members enumerated their challenges, talents, skills and dreams, promising to develop themselves and engage in selfless service to the ministry, the state and the country at large.