By Nkechi Eze
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, CIPM, has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, to strengthen youth mentorship, corps empowerment and national integration initiatives.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, following a courtesy visit by the Registrar and Chief Executive of CIPM, Oluwatoyin Naiwo, to the NYSC Headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking during the visit, Naiwo explained that CIPM remains the only statutory regulator of human resource management practice in Nigeria, having been established by an Act of Parliament in 2004. She noted that the institute currently has a strong professional base across the country.
“As at today, we have over 20,000 certified members including senior public officials, and we operate five zonal offices nationwide with our headquarters in Lagos,” she said.
The CIPM Registrar commended the NYSC for its sustained efforts in mentoring young Nigerians for leadership roles and equipping corps members with entrepreneurial skills aimed at promoting job creation and self-reliance.
“We commend your visionary reform which is focused on skills development, digital innovation and employability, which are repositioning the Scheme as a powerful engine for national workforce readiness,” Naiwo added.
She stressed the importance of exposing corps members to the institute’s professional framework, noting that early engagement would help guide them toward structured career planning and post-service opportunities.
As part of the proposed collaboration, Naiwo suggested that CIPM be allowed to make formal presentations during NYSC orientation courses to provide corps members with insights on workplace expectations, career pathways and professional development opportunities.
Responding, the Director-General of NYSC, Olakunle Nafiu, welcomed the proposal and reaffirmed the Scheme’s commitment to partnerships that promote youth development and national unity.
He noted that corps members are always eager to embrace initiatives that would enhance their personal and professional growth, adding that manpower development remains a core mandate of the Scheme.
Nafiu further disclosed that both organisations would establish a joint technical team to work out modalities for implementing the proposed collaboration.
The planned partnership is expected to further strengthen NYSC’s ongoing reforms aimed at improving corps members’ employability, leadership capacity and overall contribution to Nigeria’s workforce and national development.
