The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has pledged stronger collaboration with its critical partners and stakeholders in the conduct of Orientation Courses and other operational aspects of the Scheme.
The Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, made this known at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Pre-Orientation Workshop held in Lafia, Nasarawa State, North-Central Nigeria.
According to the DG, the Pre-Orientation Workshop serves as a platform for NYSC Management and key stakeholders involved in Orientation activities to review the previous Orientation Course to improve the Scheme’s operations in subsequent exercises.
Brigadier General Nafiu emphasised that the periodic conduct of the workshop reflects the NYSC Management’s commitment to the continuous enhancement of the Orientation Course contents, ensuring Corps Members are adequately equipped for the enormous task of nation-building.
He stressed that the Orientation Course must remain a foundation for instilling discipline, patriotism, and unity, values that are essential and non-negotiable for national development, especially in times of distractions and competing interests.
Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule while declaring the workshop with the theme, “Maintaining the Integrity of the Orientation Course in the face of Competing Interests”, opened, pledged continued support to the NYSC.
He affirmed that since its inception in 1973, the NYSC has played a pivotal role in national development.
He commended the Scheme’s laudable contributions in areas such as community development, healthcare services, public policy awareness, educational interventions, and participation in national exercises like elections and census achievements which have earned Nigeria both domestic and international recognition.
Governor Sule described the NYSC as a cornerstone of the nation’s collective aspirations and stressed the importance of sustained stakeholder support to ensure its continued success.
He further praised the invaluable contributions of Corps Members to Nasarawa State, especially in healthcare delivery, community development initiatives, environmental sanitation, and other socio-economic services.
“It is crucial that we continue to provide unwavering support to the Scheme, building upon its numerous achievements across all sectors of national development.
We are committed to infrastructural development and to creating an enabling environment for our youths to thrive,” the Governor said.
He also encouraged the NYSC to further innovate and solidify its role in national development, thereby earning greater admiration and support from Nigerians.
Earlier, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr. Ahmed Ikaka, in his welcome address, noted that the Orientation Camp being the Corps Members’ first point of contact with the Scheme leaves a lasting impression.
He emphasised the need to make it a worthwhile and impactful lifetime experience.