The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has charged corps members to remain committed to the core values of the Scheme as they embark on the compulsory national service year, describing those values as the foundation of NYSC’s survival and relevance over the decades.
General Nafiu gave the charge on Monday while addressing the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream One corps members at the Osun State NYSC Orientation Camp in Ede, where he emphasized the importance of discipline, patriotism and selfless service in sustaining the ideals upon which the Scheme was established.
According to the NYSC Director-General, values such as selfless service, patriotism, integrity, efficiency, commitment and teamwork have remained the pillars that have kept the Scheme strong since its establishment in 1973. He noted that the responsibility of preserving these ideals now rests on the shoulders of the present and future corps members.
“These virtues are the pillars that have kept the Scheme waxing strong since 1973,” General Nafiu said. “The present and future corps members must continue to imbibe them in order to sustain the legacies of the founding fathers of the NYSC.”
He reminded the corps members that the NYSC was established to foster national unity, integration and development by harnessing the intellectual capacity and creative energy of young Nigerian graduates across different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds.
The NYSC DG stressed that corps members must see themselves as critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s development journey, noting that they are expected to continue the task of nation-building from where earlier generations stopped. He urged them to view the service year not as a burden, but as an opportunity to make lasting contributions to society.
Quoting directly from the NYSC Anthem, General Nafiu said, “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.” He added that national development requires sacrifice, commitment and a genuine sense of ownership by Nigerian youths.
He further advised the corps members to be adaptable as they would soon be posted to different parts of the country after the orientation exercise. According to him, adjusting positively to new environments is key to peaceful coexistence and effective service delivery during the service year.
General Nafiu also urged the corps members to respect the customs, traditions and values of their host communities, stressing that mutual respect would help them earn the goodwill and cooperation of their hosts. He noted that peaceful relationships at the grassroots level contribute significantly to national unity and cohesion.
The NYSC boss cautioned against acts capable of tarnishing the image of the Scheme, reminding corps members that they serve as ambassadors of their families, institutions and states of origin wherever they are posted.
Earlier in his remarks, the Osun State NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Ekeng Ita Kubiangha, disclosed that a total of 1,864 corps members were registered at the camp. He commended them for their conduct, describing the corps members as disciplined and enthusiastic participants in all camp activities.
Mr. Kubiangha assured the Director-General that the orientation camp was running smoothly, adding that camp officials were committed to ensuring the safety, welfare and proper training of the corps members throughout the orientation period.
The address ended with renewed calls for dedication, discipline and national service, as the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream One corps members prepare to transition from orientation to active service across Osun State and beyond.
