The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has charged Corps Members on teaching assignments to contribute meaningfully towards improving the quality of education in their service locations.
He gave the charge during his visit to the 2025 Batch ‘C’ Corps Members deployed to Kebbi State at the Temporary Orientation Camp in Basaura, Jega Local Government Area.
The DG urged them to assess the academic performance of their schools and set ambitious improvement targets.
“Check how well the school has performed in Mathematics, English and the sciences.
“If you see that consistently, the pass mark for English has been 30%, challenge yourself: try and take it up to 60 or 70%. That should be your pride,” he said.
He called on the Corps Members to build friendships across ethnic and geo-political lines, stressing that such networks would serve as a foundation for the future success of the country.
Nafiu also encouraged them to embrace the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme of the Scheme.
“Your one year should give you two returns: Certificate of National Service and a marketable skill,” the DG said.
He further urged them to explore cross-regional trade networks in their pursuit of self-employment and wealth creation, noting that some of today’s successful private sector players began their entrepreneurial journeys during their service year.
The DG informed the Corps Members that the NYSC was in partnership with the Bank of Industry, NNPC, Kudimata, Wema Bank, Access Bank and others, with a view to providing grants and loans to help Corps entrepreneurs actualize their business plans.
Earlier, the NYSC State Coordinator, Alhaji Bala Dabo, told the DG that although the Orientation Camp was temporary, it has been equipped with facilities to ensure smooth operations.
He added that 567 Corps Members were registered for the Orientation Course.
Confidence Okwuchi