Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has charged Corps Members to dedicate their intellectual capacity, creativity, and energy to the development of Nigeria.
He gave the charge while addressing Corps Members deployed to Bauchi State for the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream I service year at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Wailo, in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state.
Nafiu urged the Corps Members to be proud of their country, stressing that Nigerians must take responsibility for building the nation rather than expecting others to do so.
He reminded them that, as young, vibrant, and energetic citizens, they have a critical role to play in advancing the nation and consolidating the achievements of previous generations.
“We all desire a beautiful country—a nation where we can raise our families and proudly call home, a country where things work efficiently. The question is: who will build this country for us? We must work hard to sustain and improve on the legacy of our forefathers.
“You, the youth, constitute more than 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population. Therefore, the responsibility of building the nation of your dreams rests largely on your shoulders,” he said.
Speaking further, the DG said the Federal Government established the NYSC in 1973 to harness the strength and potential of Nigerian youths for nation-building. He noted that the Scheme was created as part of the post-civil war policy of Reconciliation, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction initiated by General Yakubu Gowon.
“Following the civil war, the government adopted the policy of Reconciliation, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction. It then became necessary to establish a scheme that would enable young graduates to serve for one year in states other than their states of origin, thereby promoting national integration and unity,” he stated.
General Nafiu further stated that achieving an egalitarian and prosperous nation requires unity among Nigerians, regardless of ethnic, regional, or religious differences.
He maintained that the NYSC remains one of the foremost platforms for promoting national cohesion through its mobilisation and deployment policy.
“The essence of NYSC is to foster national unity, cohesion, and peaceful coexistence. As you sit in this hall today, you’ll observe that those seated beside you come from different parts of the country. This diversity is one of the Scheme’s greatest strengths,” he said.
The NYSC Chief Executive also stated that, as part of efforts to encourage citizens to contribute meaningfully to national development, the government has continued to create opportunities for young people to access quality education and vocational training.
According to him, many Nigerians underestimate the extent of government support available to young people.
“Some people ask, ‘What is the government doing for us?’ The government subsidizes tertiary education. Without such intervention, perhaps only 20 to 30 per cent of those in this camp would have been able to obtain university degrees. Government also operates numerous skills development centres across the country to equip youths with practical skills for national development,” he said.
He urged the Corps Members to take full advantage of the various activities outlined in the Orientation Course timetable so that they would leave camp better equipped than when they arrived. He encouraged them to apply the knowledge, skills, and experiences acquired during the service year towards national development.
He particularly advised them to pay close attention to the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) program, both in camp and after camp, to enhance their chances of becoming self-reliant and employers of labor.
Emphasising on the importance of entrepreneurship, he noted that the government alone cannot provide sufficient jobs for Nigeria’s growing youth population.
“Everywhere in the world, governments are not the primary job providers. The responsibility of the government is to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and generate employment opportunities,” he said.
The DG encouraged the Corps Members to venture into small-scale businesses such as barbing and hairdressing salons, ICT services, baking, fashion design, and other productive enterprises capable of creating jobs and contributing to economic growth.
Earlier, the NYSC Bauchi State Coordinator, Mr. Kufre Umoren, reported that a total of 1,074 Corps Members, comprising 573 males and 501 females, had been successfully registered in camp.
