By Nkechi Eze
The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has urged members of the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream II to use their service year as a platform to foster national unity, promote integration, and contribute to the socio-economic advancement of Nigeria.
General Nafiu gave the charge during his nationwide virtual welcome address to corps members as activities for the three-week orientation course fully commenced across all camps.
In an official statement signed by the NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, the DG reminded the new corps members that the orientation programme was not merely a formality, but a transformative experience that would shape their outlook on discipline, resilience, and service.
“You will learn discipline, teamwork, adaptability, resilience, and leadership. From the lectures and skills acquisition sessions to the sports, social activities, and even the Man ‘O War drills, every part of this programme is designed to stretch and strengthen you physically, mentally, and morally,” he stated.
General Nafiu emphasized that the scheme was training them not only for national service but for life, urging them to focus on three critical areas during their stay in camp: discipline, security, and opportunity.
On discipline, he stressed the importance of respecting camp rules, obeying instructions, and wearing the NYSC uniform with dignity, while warning against cultism, drug abuse, cybercrime, fraud, and all forms of misconduct. “The Code of Conduct of the NYSC is not negotiable, and violations will be met with firm consequences,” he said.
Highlighting security as a shared responsibility, the DG advised corps members to be alert, avoid sharing sensitive images or security-related details on social media, and promptly report suspicious activities to camp officials.
He also underscored the vast opportunities available to corps members through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, which he described as a gateway to empowerment. “Beyond national service, the NYSC is your gateway to empowerment. Through SAED, you have access to training that can turn you into job creators and innovators. Many of your predecessors used this platform to build businesses, secure funding, and transform their futures. I encourage you to seize it. In today’s economy, skills and creativity are the currency of progress, so make this year count,” Nafiu urged.
The NYSC helmsman further admonished corps members to cultivate lifelong friendships, steer clear of negative use of social media, and uphold the values of the scheme with consistency and pride.
“Be mindful that not everything needs to be shared online. A moment of viral attention is never worth the cost of your reputation or future. The internet does not forget. Stand against division. Serve with pride, joy, and the conviction that you are the generation that will make this country greater,” he charged.
General Nafiu assured the corps members of the unflinching support of the NYSC management, stating: “Whenever the journey feels hard, remember that you are not alone. As your Director General, I, along with the entire NYSC staff, stand with you, ready to guide, protect, and support you every step of the way. Together, we will keep the flame of unity burning.”
