By Nkechi Eze
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has charged Corps Members to adopt a responsible approach to social media usage, urging them to leverage digital platforms in promoting national unity and the core ideals of the scheme.
In an official signed statement, the Director, Information and Public Relations, NYSC, Mrs Caroline Embu, disclosed that the Director-General gave the charge while addressing 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream II Corps Members deployed to the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State at the orientation camps in Kubwa and Keffi, respectively.
Brigadier General Nafiu informed the Corps Members that they would play a role in the 2027 general elections, stressing the need for absolute neutrality in their conduct both offline and on social media. He emphasised that as key stakeholders in nation-building, they must remain non-partisan at all times.
He further encouraged Corps Members to build meaningful relationships during their service year, noting that such connections could yield long-term personal and professional benefits. The NYSC helmsman cited examples of prominent Nigerians who developed enduring friendships during their service year.
Highlighting the broader objectives of the scheme, Brigadier General Nafiu noted that the service year provides a unique opportunity for young graduates to experience Nigeria’s diversity, fostering deeper understanding and national cohesion. He expressed optimism that the spirit of camaraderie and unity developed during camp activities would be sustained beyond the orientation period.
The Director-General also urged Corps Members to approach the Skills and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme with seriousness, noting its potential to provide additional income streams or evolve into full-time employment after service.
In addition, he offered financial advice, encouraging them to cultivate a savings culture throughout the service year, despite its inherent challenges.
He called on the Corps Members to contribute meaningfully to their host communities by initiating impactful Community Development Service (CDS) projects, building on the legacies of their predecessors across the country.
Providing an update on camp registration, the FCT Coordinator, Mr Samson Ateli, disclosed that 6,225 Corps Members had registered in the Federal Capital Territory, while the Nasarawa State Coordinator, Hajiya Salamatu Muhammad, said 2,679 Corps Members were registered at the Keffi orientation camp, including 796 deployed to serve in the FCT.
