The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has charged Corps members to uphold the core values of the Scheme in order to sustain its legacy.
He gave the charge on separate occasions while addressing 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream One Corps members undergoing orientation at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Ede, Osun State, and at the Kwara State Polytechnic orientation camp in Ilorin.
In a statement issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, the NYSC boss said the values of selfless service, patriotism, integrity, efficiency, commitment and teamwork had remained the pillars sustaining the Scheme since its establishment in 1973.
He stressed that current and future Corps members must continue to imbibe these virtues to preserve the vision of the founding fathers.
General Nafiu reminded the Corps members that the NYSC was established to promote national unity, integration and development by harnessing the intellectual capacity and ingenuity of young Nigerian graduates.
He urged them to continue the task of nation-building from where their predecessors stopped, noting: “As stated in the NYSC Anthem, ‘Nigeria is ours, Nigeria we serve.’ It is our responsibility to develop our country. We cannot expect foreigners to come and build our nation for us.”
The Director-General also encouraged the Corps members to participate actively in all orientation activities, explaining that the programme was designed to give them a better understanding of Nigeria and prepare them for responsibilities during and after the service year.
He further advised them to internalise the physical, mental and intellectual skills being imparted during the exercise to ensure a fulfilling and rewarding service experience.
Nafiu urged the Corps members to adapt to their new environments after the orientation course and to respect the customs and traditions of their host communities in order to earn their goodwill.
He also encouraged them to take advantage of the service year to acquire skills and attributes that would distinguish them as future leaders, adding that the NYSC platform offers opportunities to build networks and friendships that could prove valuable later in life.
Earlier, the NYSC Osun State Coordinator, Mr Ekeng Ita Kubiangha, reported that the 1,864 Corps members registered in the camp were well behaved and actively participating in all camp activities.
Similarly, the NYSC Kwara State Coordinator, Mr Onifade Joshua, informed the Director General that Corps members deployed to the state had demonstrated good conduct, while commending camp officials for their dedication to training the Corps members.
