By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.

The Management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to far-reaching reforms aimed at enhancing service delivery and aligning the operations of the Scheme with contemporary national realities.

The Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, gave the assurance on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Annual Management Conference (AMC) of the Scheme, held in Jos, Plateau State, with the theme “NYSC as a Catalyst for National Development: Tackling Present Challenges and Charting Sustainable Solutions.”
General Nafiu acknowledged the sustained support of the Federal Government towards strengthening the Scheme but charged NYSC managers to rise to national expectations by delivering efficient, impactful and people-oriented services.
According to him, the confidence of government, corps members, parents and other stakeholders must be continuously justified through improved performance and innovation.
“Our internal review of the past year has clearly shown that we must continue to embrace change and ensure sustainable growth,” the DG said.
“Having matured, the Scheme is now positioned to move beyond symbolic nation-building towards more direct and measurable contributions to national development.”

Declaring the conference open, Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Muftwang, commended the NYSC leadership for sustaining the vision of the Scheme’s founding fathers, noting that since its establishment in 1973, NYSC has grown into a strategic institution in Nigeria’s development journey.
Represented by his Deputy, Josephine Piyo, the governor praised the Scheme’s contributions to national unity and socio-economic development, particularly in education, healthcare delivery, rural infrastructure, sports development and youth empowerment through the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.

He urged the NYSC Management not to rest on its achievements, stressing that more work remains in equipping corps members with relevant and employable skills.

The governor also appealed to stakeholders at all levels to collaborate with the Scheme in advancing sustainable youth empowerment across the country.

Governor Muftwang further disclosed that his administration has commenced the renovation of facilities at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Mangu, in addition to releasing several hectares of land for agricultural activities to support national food security efforts.

In his goodwill message, the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, lauded the Management and staff of the NYSC for their dedication to youth development, noting that the country has benefited immensely from the Scheme’s various interventions.
He encouraged NYSC managers to leverage the conference to exchange experiences, introduce innovative ideas and adopt modern technical approaches to improve service delivery.

Also speaking, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Nura Umar, described the Annual Management Conference as a critical platform for reviewing the Scheme’s activities, assessing performance, identifying gaps and challenges, and collectively developing sustainable solutions for improved operations.
The conference is expected to set the tone for policy direction and operational reforms that will strengthen the NYSC’s relevance in national development.

The Statement by Caroline Embu, Director, Information and Public Relations, noted.