By Joy Onu
The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, has urged newly deployed Corps Members to see themselves as key drivers of Nigeria’s development by promoting national unity and embracing entrepreneurship throughout their service year.
Addressing the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream I Corps Members at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Wailo, Ganjuwa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Nafiu said the country’s progress depends largely on how its young people respond to the responsibilities of nation-building.
He said the NYSC was created after the civil war to strengthen national integration by giving graduates the opportunity to live and serve in states outside their places of origin, a policy he said remains relevant in fostering peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.
The NYSC Director General urged the Corps Members to use the orientation programme to acquire practical skills that would prepare them for life after service instead of relying solely on white-collar jobs.
He said the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme was designed to help participants become self-reliant and capable of creating employment opportunities for others, noting that government alone cannot absorb the country’s growing labour force.
Nafiu also cautioned the Corps Members against the irresponsible use of social media, urging them to verify information before sharing it and avoid online activities capable of threatening national peace and unity.
He maintained that young Nigerians should take ownership of the country’s future instead of expecting others to solve its challenges, adding that patriotism and active citizenship remain essential to achieving sustainable national development.
Earlier, the NYSC Coordinator in Bauchi State, Mr. Kufre Umoren, said 1,074 Corps Members, 573 males and 501 females—had completed registration for the orientation exercise.
He praised the Corps Members for their orderly conduct and commitment to activities since arriving at the camp.
