By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has launched the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Staff E-Training Portal, describing technology and continuous learning as critical to building a more efficient and responsive workforce.
Olawande, who spoke in Abuja during the 2026 Batch ‘C’ Pre-Orientation Workshop, said the Federal Ministry of Youth Development would continue to support the NYSC in its efforts to modernise operations and improve service delivery.
The Minister commended the NYSC leadership for introducing innovations aimed at enhancing efficiency and expanding access to knowledge among its personnel.
He expressed satisfaction with the Scheme’s growing adoption of technology, describing the development as a positive step towards strengthening professionalism within the organisation.
“This platform would also help to build more efficient, knowledgeable and responsive workforce. We are committed towards making the Scheme get better; let us work together and embrace technology,” Olawande said.
The Minister also stressed the need for corps members to acquire practical skills beyond academic qualifications, noting that educational certificates alone could no longer adequately address the challenge of unemployment.
According to him, corps members must be equipped with practical knowledge in leadership, entrepreneurship, critical thinking and problem-solving to enable them contribute meaningfully to national development.
“Our Corps Members must learn practical skills in leadership, entrepreneurship, critical thinking, problem-solving.
“They must also understand the importance of discipline, integrity and personal responsibility. Every Corps Member must be encouraged to make meaningful impact,” he stated.
Olawande further said the mandatory service year should provide graduates with an opportunity to serve the nation, develop leadership capacity and contribute to national development.
He disclosed that the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme remained the most important component of the NYSC at present.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, said changing societal realities had made it imperative for the Scheme to continually review the contents of its Orientation Course to ensure greater relevance.
Nafiu said the theme of the workshop, “Reimagining the NYSC Orientation Course: Building Resilient, Responsible and Service-Oriented Corps Members for a Changing World,” was designed to shape the character, mindset, skills and civic awareness of corps members.
He stressed that the success of the Orientation Course depended largely on effective collaboration among stakeholders, particularly in ensuring the security and welfare of corps members across the country.
“I encourage everyone to keep building the partnership and trust needed for the security and welfare of Corps Members wherever they are posted across the country,” Nafiu said.
“Management remains committed to working with security agencies to assess risk, take pre-emptive steps and make Corps Members safe throughout the service year.”
Earlier, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr Nura Umar, commended Minister Olawande for his commitment to youth development.
Umar described the Orientation Camp as the first point of contact for corps members as they commence their service year, stressing the need to use the exercise to shape their character, values and understanding of national responsibility.
He called for the rebuilding and modernisation of the contents, methodology and delivery of the Orientation Exercise to ensure that it remained aligned with contemporary realities.
He urged participants at the workshop to develop strategies for deepening stakeholder collaboration in areas including the welfare and safety of corps members, camp administration, discipline, leadership development and the enhancement of the SAED programme.
