By Charles Maduka
The National Youth Service Corps has announced plans to introduce reforms aimed at improving its relevance and strengthening its contribution to Nigeria’s development.
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, disclosed this while addressing participants at the opening of the scheme’s Annual Management Conference held in Jos, Plateau State. He said the NYSC had reached a stage where it must move beyond symbolic unity and begin delivering results that can be clearly measured across the country.
Nafiu explained that the focus of the reforms would be on better use of the skills, energy and patriotism of corps members to tackle current national challenges. According to him, issues such as population growth, insecurity and rapid technological changes require the scheme to adjust its strategies and operations.
He said an internal assessment of the scheme’s activities over the past year showed the need for innovation, stronger systems and improved service delivery. Nafiu urged conference participants to review existing frameworks, exchange ideas and propose practical solutions that would enhance the effectiveness of the NYSC.
The NYSC boss described the scheme as a major pool of national manpower, noting that its yearly intake of young graduates from diverse academic and professional backgrounds gives it a unique advantage in driving development initiatives.
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, who was represented by his deputy, Josephine Piyo, praised the NYSC for its long-standing role in national growth. He announced that the state government had approved the renovation of the NYSC orientation camp in Mangu Local Government Area and allocated additional land to support agricultural activities at the camp.
The conference, themed “NYSC as a catalyst for national development: Tackling present challenges and charting sustainable solutions,” is expected to produce strategies that will reposition the scheme for greater impact nationwide.
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