The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has called for improved treatment and welfare of serving corps members nationwide.
Olawande stated this at Monday’s 2025 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Annual Management Conference opening ceremony in Abuja.
Speaking on the theme “Transforming The NTSC Scheme to Meet the Yearnings of the Contemporary Nigerian Graduates and Society,” the Minister also proposed the introduction of a National Internship Scheme to provide young people with valuable work experience and enhance their career prospects.
He emphasised the importance of transforming NYSC to serve today’s youth’s needs better while calling for reform to address issues such as inadequate treatment of corps members, poor living conditions, and low wages.
The Minister stressed the need for sincerity and better management of the NYSC system, including providing job opportunities and fair compensation for corps members, announcing the upcoming launch of the Nigerian Youth Academy, a free programme for all Nigerian youth.
“I’m sure that the only gift for the NYSC is transformation, the only area where we can make a difference and bring smiles to young people’s faces. I’ve tried as much as possible not to use the term ‘reform,’ but again, if that’s the way to go, no problem.
“The only way we can improve things, even better than applause and praise, is to reform the NYSC. I’m not saying things aren’t being done correctly, but I’m not saying things are not going well.
“I beg you, let’s create a national internship scheme. Let’s do more than serve our father’s land. Let’s create an impact and make these young people viable in the job market. I plead with you all, let’s create a record of commendable achievements in mentorship, education, agriculture, and community development, not in building statues of core members in the community and calling it community development.”
Also speaking, the Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja, said the conference serves as a platform for the NYSC top management and other key officers to critically review the Scheme’s activities from the past year and develop new strategies for enhanced performance in the new year.
“As a responsive scheme led by one of the best management teams one can put together, it was decided that this year’s Annual Management Conference should look inward and self-assess what has changed around us that requires corresponding action from us.”
He appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unflinching support of the NYSC scheme and his passion for the Nigerian youths, encouraging participants to do their best to strengthen their capacity to lead a viable and productive scheme.
The special guest of honour is the Minister of FCT, Nyeson Wike, represented by the Mandate Secretary for Youth Development, Hon. Abdullahi Suleiman Ango.
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