The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has applauded professional and regulatory bodies for their collaboration in ensuring that its mobilisation process runs seamlessly at all times.
It emphasised that professional competence and certification add greater value to the academic qualifications acquired by individuals.
The Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, stated this while declaring open the 4th meeting of the Scheme with heads of professional and regulatory bodies having operational links with the NYSC, held in Abuja.
Nafiu appreciated the bodies for their support to the Scheme’s commitment towards nurturing and advancing the potentials of Nigerian youths.
He noted that NYSC, built on the tripod of national unity, integration, and development, has for the past 52 years stood as a bridge fostering patriotism and equipping young Nigerians with the values to serve the country and humanity.
He stressed that their guidance, mentorship, and collaboration as custodians of professional standards in Nigeria are pivotal in ensuring that Nigerian youths are not only employable but also equipped to lead with competence and character.
“Our graduates cannot merely be job seekers but must be job creators, investors and globally certified professionals,” the DG said.
Nafiu further stated that the Scheme would continue to provide effective manpower for the nation while transforming the service year into a hub of professional excellence, ethical leadership, and entrepreneurial innovation.
He called for a collective vision, shared responsibility, and unwavering synergy of purpose, stressing that the task of moulding Nigerian youths cannot be left in the hands of the government or a single agency.
Sustainable solutions
The DG urged participants at the meeting to engage in constructive dialogue that would enable the Scheme to adopt sustainable solutions.
“I am confident that with your support we can form a new legacy of competence and integrity.
The future of Nigeria is in the hands of our youths. How we equip them today, will determine the prosperity, unity and global competitiveness of our nation tomorrow,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Director of Corps Mobilisation, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammed, said the meeting underscored a shared responsibility in ensuring that NYSC mobilisation processes are efficient, transparent, and aligned with the highest professional standards.
He noted that NYSC’s partners in the professional and regulatory space have been indispensable in shaping robust standards, safeguarding public interest, and ensuring that mobilisation processes reflect best practices.
“This partnership has yielded tangible benefits over the years, including improved mobilisation procedures, and has enhanced efficiency. Yet, we recognize that there is room for improvement. Ambiguities in procedure, and inconsistent interfaces between regulatory requirements and mobilization processes which can hinder our shared mission and erode public confidence.
We recognise that a robust partnership will enable us to harness pooled expertise, harmonize regulations and guidelines, and embrace innovations that reduce delays, enhance accuracy, and uphold integrity across the entire mobilization value chain,” he said.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Examinations Council (NECO), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), among others.
Lateefah Ibrahim