We are reforming NYSC scheme to make youths employable — Minister
By Matthew Denis
The Minister of Youths and Sports, Ayodele Olawande, has called for reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme to better align it with contemporary society.
He made this statement on Thursday during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Batch ‘A’ Pre-Mobilisation workshop in Abuja.
The Minister noted that while abolishing the NYSC scheme is not the issue at hand, reforming it is essential to prepare youths for the workforce. He pointed out that the scheme, established in 1973, needs to evolve to meet the demands of today’s society.
Olawande stressed that with over 480,000 young people passing out as Corps members each year, it is crucial to reform the NYSC’s curriculum to ensure it better equips young people for society. He also advocated for reshaping the management of the Corps members to ensure their success.
Olawande expressed his continued support for the NYSC management in implementing policies and programmes that will benefit Nigerian youths.
Earlier, the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, remarked that reforming the mobilisation process is vital in the context of a rapidly changing world.
Nafiu noted that the theme of the event, “Reforming Corps Mobilisation in the Contemporary Nigerian Society: Challenges and Prospects,” is particularly relevant, given the ongoing efforts to ensure the NYSC remains effective in promoting national unity, integration, and holistic development.
He outlined how the NYSC plans to leverage technology, improve security partnerships, invest in infrastructure, and implement skill-based deployments to enhance efficiency and the overall experience for Corps members, while continuing to contribute to national development.
Nafiu urged workshop participants, representing Corps-producing institutions from across Nigeria, to engage in discussions that address both the challenges and potential of the NYSC mobilisation process. He emphasised the need to explore innovative strategies to harness the ideas and energy of Nigerian youth to build a more peaceful, just, and prosperous society.
In his opening remarks, the Director of Corps Mobilisation, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, highlighted the importance of the NYSC Pre-Mobilisation Workshop as a platform for collaboration between the NYSC, Corps-producing institutions, and other stakeholders to improve mobilisation efforts. He commended the progress made by the NYSC in overcoming challenges through innovation and better cooperation.
