Joseph Bakare
The Minister for Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has said the Ministry would continue to support the National Youth Service Corps.
He stated this while inaugurating the NYSC Staff, E-Training Portal during the 2026 Batch ‘C’ Pre-Orientation Workshop held in Abuja.
Olawande commended the leadership of NYSC for bringing up new innovations that would improve efficiency at work.
He expressed satisfaction with the technology driven status of NYSC in recent times, adding that the professionalism and more access to knowledge by every staff of NYSC was laudable.
“This platform would also help to build more efficient, knowledgeable and responsive workforce. We are committed towards making the Scheme get better, let us work together and embrace technology”, Olawande said.
He also said that with the growing trend across the globe, academic qualifications alone cannot solve the problems of unemployment.
“Our Corps Members must learn practical skills in leadership, entrepreneurship, critical thinking, problems-solving.”
“They must also understand the importance of discipline, integrity, and personal responsibility. Every Corps Member must be encouraged to make meaningful impact”, Olawande stated.
He also reiterated that the service year should be an opportunity for graduates to serve, lead, and contribute to national development
The Minister disclosed that Skills Acuisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) remains the most important content in the NYSC as at date.
Also speaking, the Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu said societal changes has made it imperative for the Scheme to constantly review its Orientation Course contents for more relevance.
He added that the Workshop theme; “Reimagining the NYSC Orientation Course: Building Resilient, Responsible and Service-Oriented Corps Members for a Changing World”, was chosen to shape the the Corps Members’ character, mindset, skills and civic awareness.
He added that the success of the Orientation Course depends largely on the effective collaboration of all stakeholders.
In his words; “I encourage everyone to keep building the partnership and trust needed for the security and welfare of Corps Members wherever they are posted across the country”.
“Management remains committed to working with security agencies to access risk, take preemptive steps and make Corps Members safe throughout service year”.
The Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr Nura Umar, in his address, appreciated Comrade Olawande for his passion for youth development.
He stated further that the Orientation Camp is the first contact of every Corps Member to kick-start the service year, adding that there was the need to shape their character, values and understanding of National responsibility.
Mr Umar also said it is necessary to “rebuild and modernise the contents, methodology and delivery of the Orientation Exercise to ensure that it remains focused and align with contemporary realities.”
He urged the participants to use the workshop to devise strategies that would deepen the stakeholders’ relationship through the welfare and safety of Corps Members, camp administration, strengthening discipline and leadership development, enhancing Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development.