By Nkechi Eze
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has called for greater adoption of technology in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to improve efficiency, knowledge and responsiveness among its workforce.
According to an official statement signed by Caroline Embu, Director, Information and Public Information, Olawande made the call in Abuja while inaugurating the NYSC Staff E-Training Portal during the 2026 Batch ‘C’ Pre-Orientation Workshop.
The minister commended the NYSC leadership for introducing innovations aimed at improving efficiency, expressing satisfaction with the Scheme’s increasing adoption of technology and the opportunities it provides for staff to access knowledge.
He said the new platform would help build a more efficient and knowledgeable workforce, while reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to supporting the NYSC.
“This platform would also help to build more efficient, knowledgeable and responsive workforce. We are committed towards making the Scheme get better, let us work together and embrace technology,” Olawande said.
The minister also stressed the need for the NYSC to equip Corps Members with practical skills beyond academic qualifications, noting that university degrees alone could not address the growing challenge of unemployment.
According to him, Corps Members must acquire skills in leadership, entrepreneurship, critical thinking and problem-solving, while also developing discipline, integrity and personal responsibility.
“Our Corps Members must learn practical skills in leadership, entrepreneurship, critical thinking, problems-solving.
“They must also understand the importance of discipline, integrity, and personal responsibility. Every Corps Member must be encouraged to make meaningful impact,” he stated.
Olawande said the mandatory service year should provide graduates with an opportunity to serve, lead and contribute meaningfully to national development.
He further identified the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme as the most important content of the NYSC at present, underscoring the need to strengthen skills development among Corps Members.
Also speaking, the Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, said changing societal realities had made it necessary for the Scheme to continuously review the contents of its Orientation Course to keep them relevant.
Nafiu said the theme of the workshop, “Reimagining the NYSC Orientation Course: Building Resilient, Responsible and Service-Oriented Corps Members for a Changing World,” was designed to address the character, mindset, skills and civic awareness of Corps Members.
He emphasised that the success of the Orientation Course depended largely on effective collaboration among stakeholders, particularly in ensuring the security and welfare of Corps Members.
“I encourage everyone to keep building the partnership and trust needed for the security and welfare of Corps Members wherever they are posted across the country,” Nafiu said.
He added that NYSC management remained committed to working with security agencies to assess risks, take pre-emptive measures and ensure the safety of Corps Members throughout their service year.
The Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr Nura Umar, commended the Youth Development Minister for his commitment to youth development, noting that the Orientation Camp represented the first major contact of Corps Members as they commenced their service year.
Umar said the Orientation Course must be continually strengthened to shape the character, values and understanding of national responsibility among Corps Members.
He called for the modernisation of the contents, methodology and delivery of the Orientation Exercise to ensure that it remained aligned with contemporary realities.
He urged participants at the workshop to develop strategies for deepening stakeholder collaboration, particularly in the areas of Corps Members’ welfare and safety, camp administration, discipline and leadership development, as well as strengthening the SAED programme.
