By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.

Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Youth Development is moving to rally international support for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), as the country prepares for a sharp rise in the number of young graduates entering the national service scheme.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Maryam Isma’il Keshinro, said she is ready to engage international organizations and development partners to strengthen the NYSC and expand its impact nationwide.

Keshinro made the remarks during a familiarization visit to the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in Abuja, where she led senior management staff of the ministry.

She called for increased funding, additional personnel and improved infrastructure to ensure the scheme delivers services more efficiently, describing the NYSC as a critical pillar for youth development and national cohesion.

The permanent secretary praised past and present NYSC leadership for mentoring corps members in leadership and entrepreneurship, noting that the program has helped produce a growing number of young business owners across the country.

Keshinro, who completed her own national service in Abia State in 1997, also highlighted the role of corps members in fostering national unity and integration, urging stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
She further encouraged public and private sector support for NYSC’s commercial ventures, including its bottled water, bakery and poultry projects, as a way to boost sustainability.

“I am proud of you for what you are doing,” Keshinro said. “Thank you for working as a family. We are working for Nigeria, and I look forward to a robust working relationship.”

In a statement issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, congratulated Keshinro on her appointment and outlined the scale of the scheme’s growing responsibilities.
According to Nafiu, the NYSC currently mobilizes about 400,000 corps members annually, a figure projected to rise to 650,000 from Nigerian tertiary institutions alone by 2026.

He assured the permanent secretary of the NYSC management’s commitment to improving security and the overall welfare of both staff and corps members as the program expands.

The push for international partnerships comes amid broader efforts by the Nigerian government to reposition the NYSC as a stronger platform for youth empowerment, skills development and national service.