By Nkechi Eze
The Management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening reforms aimed at enhancing service delivery and repositioning the Scheme to better align with Nigeria’s evolving socio-economic realities.
This assurance was given by the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Annual Management Conference (AMC) of the Scheme, held in Jos, the Plateau State capital. The conference, themed “NYSC as a Catalyst for National Development: Tackling Present Challenges and Charting Sustainable Solutions,” brought together senior management staff of the Scheme from across the country to reflect on its performance and future direction.
In an official statement signed by the Director, Information and Public Relations of the NYSC, Caroline Embu, the Director-General acknowledged the sustained efforts of the Federal Government to strengthen the Scheme but stressed that Nigeria continued to expect the highest standards of performance from it. He charged NYSC managers to justify the confidence reposed in the Scheme by government, corps members, parents, and other critical stakeholders through improved efficiency and responsiveness.
According to Brigadier General Nafiu, an internal review of the Scheme’s activities over the past year revealed the need for continuous adaptation and innovation. He emphasised that the NYSC must deliberately embrace change to ensure sustainable growth and relevance. “Our internal review of the past year has clearly shown that we must continue to embrace change and ensure sustainable growth,” he said, adding that the Scheme had matured beyond its early years.
He noted that, having come of age, the NYSC was now strategically positioned to move beyond symbolic nation-building to more direct, measurable, and impactful contributions to national development, particularly in key sectors that affect youth empowerment and community development.
Declaring the conference open, the Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Muftwang, commended NYSC managers for sustaining the vision and ideals of the Scheme’s founding fathers. He observed that since its establishment in 1973, the NYSC had evolved to play strategic roles in Nigeria’s journey towards unity and development. The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Mrs Josephine Piyo, praised the Scheme’s contributions to national cohesion and socio-economic advancement.
Governor Muftwang specifically highlighted the impact of the NYSC in education, healthcare delivery, rural infrastructural development, sports, and youth empowerment, particularly through the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme. He urged the Management of the Scheme not to relent in its efforts, noting that significant gaps still existed in equipping corps members with relevant and market-driven skills.
“I therefore urge the NYSC Management not to rest on its oars, as there is still much to be done in the provision of relevant skills to corps members,” he said, while appealing to stakeholders at all levels to support the Scheme in its drive towards sustainable youth empowerment.
The governor further disclosed that his administration had commenced the renovation of facilities at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Mangu and had also released several hectares of land for agricultural activities. According to him, the initiative is intended to strengthen the Scheme’s contribution to national efforts aimed at achieving food sufficiency.
In a goodwill message, the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, commended the Management and staff of the NYSC for their dedication to youth development, noting that the country had recorded numerous achievements through interventions driven by the Scheme. He encouraged NYSC managers to leverage the conference as an opportunity to exchange experiences, introduce innovative ideas, and harness technical effectiveness to improve overall service delivery.
Also speaking at the event, the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics of the NYSC, Mr Nura Umar, described the Annual Management Conference as a critical platform for institutional self-assessment. He explained that the forum enables managers to review activities, evaluate performance, identify operational gaps and challenges, and jointly develop sustainable solutions aimed at strengthening the operations and impact of the Scheme.
The conference is expected to generate actionable recommendations that will further reposition the NYSC as a key driver of youth development, national integration, and sustainable socio-economic growth in line with contemporary national priorities.
