By Nkechi Eze
The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has urged ICT Officers in the Scheme to rise to the challenge of securing NYSC’s digital platforms against mounting cyber threats, stressing that their role is central to the institution’s operations and long-term credibility.
In a statement signed by the Director, Information and Public Relations of NYSC, Caroline Embu, the DG made the call in Abuja while declaring open the 2025 ICT Officers’ Technical Capacity Building Workshop, themed “IT Proficiency: Strengthening ICT Officers’ Capacity for Technical Support and System Administration.”
Represented at the opening session by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr. Ahmed Wada Ikaka, Brigadier General Nafiu emphasized that the Scheme has already prioritized investments in digital transformation. He noted that ICT officers must now match these investments with intelligence, resilience, and operational efficiency to ensure that NYSC’s systems remain seamless, secure, and responsive.
He described ICT officers as the “unseen architects of operational success, the gatekeepers of system integrity, and the problem-solvers behind the scenes,” stressing that their role was far from auxiliary but rather pivotal to the smooth running of the NYSC. He urged them to treat the workshop as a strategic platform for deep reflection, skill renewal, and capacity enhancement.
“I challenge you all to a wake-up call to excellence,” the DG declared. “Rethink how to secure NYSC’s digital assets in the age of increasing cyber vulnerabilities. Standardize our processes across states, ensuring that the Scheme speaks with one technological voice, and embrace the culture of innovation that goes beyond problem-solving to value creation.”
In her welcome address, the NYSC Director of ICT, Mrs. Arunah Aminat, explained that the workshop was conceived to bridge performance gaps, equip newly appointed officers with foundational competencies, and update the expertise of experienced hands in line with evolving IT trends and operational demands. She reminded participants that their actions directly affect service delivery and operational credibility, making their roles indispensable to the Scheme.
“We are in a dynamic era where information technology evolves rapidly,” she said. “The digital challenges we face today require more than just familiarity. They require expertise, agility, innovation, and a deep understanding of secure and efficient systems management.”
The workshop brought together ICT Desk Officers from all 36 states of the federation, the FCT Secretariat, and their colleagues at the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in Abuja. It is expected to further consolidate the Scheme’s efforts at embedding innovation, standardization, and cybersecurity consciousness into its nationwide digital operations.
