By Nkechi Eze
The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has revealed that the services rendered by Corps Members in Lagos State contribute an estimated value of over N14 billion annually to the government and people of the state.
General Nafiu made this disclosure during a courtesy visit to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos State Government House, Marina, where he highlighted the enormous socio-economic impact of the scheme in the state.
According to a statement signed by the NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, the NYSC DG explained that the monetary value was a conservative estimate of the services rendered by more than 44,000 Corps Members deployed across Lagos in various fields. These include 333 medical doctors, 306 pharmacists, 274 nurses, and 7,188 teachers, among others.
He described Lagos as the most preferred destination for Corps Members in the country, adding that parents were also confident about their wards serving in the state due to its relatively secure environment.
“The purpose of my visit is to acknowledge the support of the Lagos State Government to the NYSC, to cement our already cordial relationship, and to reassure Your Excellency that we will continue to deploy an adequate number of Corps Members to serve in this state,” General Nafiu told the Governor.
The NYSC boss commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for the critical renovation carried out at the temporary orientation camp in Iyana-Ipaja, noting also the ongoing work at the new 10,000-capacity Permanent Orientation Camp. He expressed optimism that when the camp is completed, all Corps Members posted to Lagos would be accommodated in one facility instead of the current arrangement where some are dislodged to neighboring states.
General Nafiu also appealed to the Governor to provide the NYSC Secretariat in Lagos with an ambulance and sustain other forms of support, which he said have been crucial to the operational efficiency of the scheme in the state.
While congratulating Governor Sanwo-Olu on the remodelled National Theatre, the DG described the edifice as a national monument of repute and commended the state government for preserving its cultural and historical value.
