The Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, has urged the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to focus on equipping graduates with the skills needed for employment, rather than solely emphasising national service.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja at the 2025 NYSC Batch ‘A’ Pre-Mobilisation Workshop, themed “Reforming Corps Mobilisation in the Contemporary Nigerian Society: Challenges and Prospects,” Olawande stressed that the scheme must adapt to current realities.
“The NYSC was established in 1973, but the world has changed significantly since then. We need to rethink our approach, especially in corps mobilisation,” he said.
The minister acknowledged the NYSC’s achievements in fostering cultural integration and skills acquisition but emphasised the need to bridge the gap between service and employability.
“We must address how the scheme can better prepare graduates for today’s job market. We need to rethink, revalue, and reshape our approach to ensure our graduates are employable rather than job seekers in an oversaturated market,” he added.
Olawande highlighted that corps members have the potential not only to secure jobs but also to become job creators, stating, “They can generate employment opportunities for many others.”
He also called for collective efforts from all stakeholders, saying that reforming the NYSC should not be the government’s responsibility alone.
The Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier-General Olakunle Nafiu, echoed the need for reforms, noting that the organisation must leverage technology, security partnerships, and skill-based deployment to improve its impact on national development.
“This workshop provides an opportunity for meaningful discussions on how we can refine the mobilisation process to better align with youth development and societal transformation,” Nafiu stated.
Declaring the workshop open, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, praised corps members for their contributions to the territory’s development. Represented by Hon. Ango Suleiman, Mandate Secretary of the Youth and Sports Secretariat, Wike reaffirmed the FCT administration’s commitment to supporting NYSC’s objectives.
He urged participants to develop practical recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of corps mobilisation.
