The Management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has restated its determination to deepen reforms aimed at improving service delivery and aligning the Scheme’s operations with present-day realities.
The Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, made this known on Monday at the opening of the 2026 Annual Management Conference (AMC) of the Scheme in Jos, the Plateau State capital. The conference is themed, “NYSC as a Catalyst for National Development; Tackling Present Challenges and Charting Sustainable Solutions.”
This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Information and Public Relations, NYSC, Caroline Embu. Nafiu acknowledged the Federal Government’s sustained efforts to strengthen the Scheme and reminded NYSC managers that Nigerians expect optimal performance from the organisation. He urged them to sustain the confidence of the government, Corps members, parents, and other stakeholders.
According to him, an internal review of the Scheme’s activities over the past year showed the need for continuous adaptation and sustainable growth. He noted that having matured over the years, the NYSC must now go beyond symbolic nation-building to make more direct and measurable contributions to national development.
Declaring the conference open, Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Muftwang, commended NYSC managers for upholding the vision of the Scheme’s founding fathers. He noted that since its establishment in 1973, the NYSC has continued to play strategic roles in Nigeria’s development journey.
Represented by his Deputy, Josephine Piyo, the governor praised the Scheme’s contributions to national unity and socio-economic development, particularly in education, health, rural infrastructure, sports, and the empowerment of Corps members through the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.
Muftwang urged the NYSC management not to relent in its efforts, stressing that more work still needs to be done in equipping Corps members with relevant and marketable skills. He also called on stakeholders at all levels to support the Scheme in promoting sustainable youth empowerment.
The governor disclosed that his administration had begun renovating facilities at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Mangu and had also allocated several hectares of land for agricultural activities to support national food security efforts.
In a goodwill message, the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, applauded the management and staff of the NYSC for their dedication to youth development, noting that the country had benefitted immensely from various interventions of the Scheme.
He encouraged NYSC managers to share experiences, introduce innovative ideas, and leverage technical efficiency to enhance the Scheme’s impact and service delivery.
Also speaking, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Nura Umar, described the conference as a vital platform for NYSC managers to review activities, assess performance, identify gaps and challenges, and jointly develop sustainable solutions for improved operations.
