In a move to reposition the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for modern-day relevance, the Federal Government has inaugurated a committee tasked with overhauling the scheme and exploring new initiatives to support national development.
The committee, launched on Tuesday in Abuja, is expected to conduct a comprehensive review of the NYSC, examine its challenges, and propose reforms that will enhance its impact on youth empowerment and national unity.
At the inauguration, Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, acknowledged that while the NYSC has remained a cornerstone of national integration since its inception in 1973, it faces mounting concerns in today’s rapidly changing environment.
“The issues of corps members’ safety, infrastructural challenges, and the broader question of the scheme’s relevance in an increasingly dynamic socio-economic environment are among the key concerns,” Olawande said.
“However, these challenges also present opportunities that require urgent, visionary, and determined action.”
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The minister emphasized that the committee would examine how the NYSC currently operates and recommend steps to make it safer, more creative, and more aligned with national development goals.
“The outcome of this review must align with broader national development objectives, positioning the NYSC as a strategic tool for youth empowerment and nation-building,” he added.
The committee will also explore ways to improve funding, monitoring, and delivery of the scheme while engaging stakeholders across the country for inclusive reform.
Also speaking at the event, Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, revealed government plans to introduce a Teachers’ Corps and a Medical Corps—targeted at deploying NCE graduates and healthcare workers to underserved communities.
“The Teachers’ Corps would help bridge educational gaps and create a pathway to government employment, while the Medical Corps would strengthen healthcare delivery in underserved areas, addressing critical issues such as maternal and child health,” Alausa explained.
Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Usman, stressed the need for the scheme to embrace technical and vocational skills training.
“Such alignment would empower young people to make meaningful, long-term contributions to their communities and to the nation as a whole,” Usman noted.
