NYSC DG Charges Corps Members to Champion National Development

The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, has called on Corps Members to deploy their knowledge, creativity, and energy towards building a better Nigeria.

Nafiu made the call while addressing Corps Members deployed to Bauchi State for the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream I service year at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Wailo, Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state.

The NYSC helmsman urged the young graduates to take ownership of the country’s development, stressing that nation-building requires collective responsibility and commitment from citizens.

According to him, youths, who constitute a significant percentage of Nigeria’s population, have a vital role to play in shaping the future of the country.

“We all desire a beautiful country a nation where we can raise our families and proudly call home, a country where things work efficiently. The question is: who will build this country for us? We must work hard to sustain and improve on the legacy of our forefathers,” he said.

General Nafiu explained that the NYSC was established in 1973 by the Federal Government as part of efforts to promote national unity and harness the potential of Nigerian youths for development.

He noted that the Scheme was introduced following the civil war under the policy of Reconciliation, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction initiated by the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, to encourage integration among Nigerians.

He said the NYSC remains a key platform for fostering unity, peaceful coexistence, and national cohesion through the deployment of graduates across different parts of the country.

“The essence of NYSC is to foster national unity, cohesion, and peaceful coexistence. The diversity of Corps Members from different parts of Nigeria remains one of the greatest strengths of the Scheme,” Nafiu stated.

The Director General also encouraged Corps Members to maximise the opportunities provided through the Orientation Course and the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, noting that the initiative was designed to equip young Nigerians with skills for self-reliance.

He emphasised that government alone cannot provide jobs for the country’s growing youth population, urging Corps Members to embrace entrepreneurship and create employment opportunities through productive ventures.

Nafiu advised them to explore areas such as information and communication technology, fashion design, catering, hairdressing, and other businesses that could contribute to economic growth.

He further cautioned the Corps Members against irresponsible use of social media, urging them to verify information before sharing online and to use digital platforms to promote peace, unity, and national development.

“Before posting, sharing, or commenting on any issue on social media, ensure that you verify the facts thoroughly. Do not rush to conclusions based solely on information circulated online,” he advised.

Earlier, the NYSC Bauchi State Coordinator, Mr. Kufre Umoren, disclosed that 1,074 Corps Members comprising 573 males and 501 females had successfully completed registration for the orientation exercise.

He commended the Corps Members for their discipline, patriotism, and active participation in camp activities, urging them to sustain the values of the Scheme throughout their service year.