The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has declared its readiness to undergo reforms aimed at addressing emerging challenges in the country and strengthening its contribution to national development.
The Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General OO Nafiu, made this known on Monday at the opening ceremony of the 2026 NYSC Annual Management Conference in Jos, Plateau State.
According to Nafiu, the scheme has matured and is now ready to move beyond symbolic nation-building to more practical and measurable contributions to national growth.
“The key question we face is no longer about relevance but about deliberate deployment – how this collective energy, skill, and patriotism can be systematically harnessed to address current challenges and create sustainable solutions,” he said.
He stressed the need for the NYSC to adapt to changing population trends, security concerns and technological developments. Nafiu added that an internal review of the past year showed the need for continuous growth and change, prompting management’s commitment to reforms that will strengthen systems, improve service delivery and align operations with present realities.
The Director General urged conference participants to critically review operations, share experiences and propose innovative ideas that would enhance the scheme’s performance and overall impact.
Describing the NYSC as a unique pool of human capital, Nafiu noted that its large numerical strength, annual intake and the diverse academic and professional backgrounds of young Nigerians give it a strategic advantage in driving national development.
He also expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, for their continued support for the NYSC.
Governor Mutfwang, who declared the conference open through his Deputy, Josephine Piyo, commended the NYSC for its role in national development, describing it as a strategic institution in Nigeria’s progress.
He announced the renovation of the NYSC Orientation Camp in Mangu Local Government Area and the allocation of additional land to the camp for agricultural purposes.
“I have directed the addition of several hectares of land to the NYSC camp for agricultural purposes. With the pace of work at the camp, I am confident that the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Orientation Exercise will hold at the camp,” the governor said.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, was also acknowledged for his strategic guidance and commitment to the success of the scheme.
The conference, themed “NYSC as a Catalyst for National Development: Tackling Present Challenges and Charting Sustainable Solutions,” is designed to encourage meaningful discussions and produce practical ideas to further enhance the NYSC’s performance and national impact.
Elijah Adeyemi
