The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Dr. Maryam Keshinro, has called for increased funding, improved infrastructure, and stronger strategic partnerships to enhance the operations of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC).
Dr. Keshinro made the call during separate familiarisation visits to the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, and the Director-General of CLTC, Ms. Rinsola Abiola, at their respective headquarters.
Describing the NYSC as a cornerstone of national unity and youth development, the Permanent Secretary reflected on her service year, noting that the Scheme has continued to shape generations of young Nigerians through discipline, exposure, and cultural integration.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Ministry, Omolara Esan, Dr. Keshinro was quoted as saying that the NYSC “remains one of the most effective platforms for fostering national cohesion and exposing our youths to the richness of Nigeria’s diversity.”
She commended the leadership and staff of the Scheme for their dedication and resilience, while acknowledging challenges such as increasing corps enrolment, inadequate staffing, and growing pressure on orientation camp facilities and accommodation.
Dr. Keshinro called for stronger involvement of state and local governments in supporting the welfare of corps members and stressed the need for competitive upgrades to camp infrastructure. She also emphasised that strategic collaboration with the private sector and international development partners would significantly enhance NYSC operations and youth empowerment outcomes.
On the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, the Permanent Secretary highlighted its critical role in nation-building through ethical leadership, civic responsibility, and skills development among young Nigerians. She described the Centre as a vital platform for grooming disciplined, value-driven youths capable of contributing meaningfully to national development.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Nafiu, described the Scheme as one of Nigeria’s most enduring nation-building institutions, established in 1973 to promote national unity, integration, and patriotic service.
He disclosed that from an inaugural batch of 2,634 corps members, the Scheme now mobilises up to 400,000 corps members annually, reaching virtually every Nigerian family and reaffirming its relevance more than five decades after inception.
Brigadier General Nafiu acknowledged challenges including manpower shortages, security concerns, and funding constraints, adding that innovative initiatives are being explored to complement available resources. He expressed confidence that with enhanced funding and sustained collaboration, the NYSC would continue to play a vital role in youth development and national cohesion.
Similarly, the Director-General of CLTC, Ms. Rinsola Abiola, expressed optimism about sustained collaboration with the Ministry, reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to effective partnership and alignment on current and future programmes aimed at strengthening leadership development and regional administration.
