… Rolls Out New Orientation Protocols
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced plans to introduce a standardised protocol for the handling and welfare of corps members with disabilities during orientation camps and throughout the service year, in a move aimed at promoting inclusion, dignity and equal opportunity.
The Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, disclosed this on Tuesday during his keynote address at the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Pre-Orientation Workshop held in Jos, Plateau State.
The workshop was themed “Revamping the NYSC Orientation Course Experience as a Foundation for Impactful Service by Corps Members.”
According to the NYSC boss, the new protocol forms part of the scheme’s broader welfare strategy and goes beyond mere regulatory compliance to embrace empathy, emotional intelligence and humane engagement with corps members.
He said the initiative reflects the commitment of the scheme to ensure that no corps member is left behind, regardless of physical ability.
General Nafiu described the orientation course as the foundation of a successful service year, stressing that it must continuously evolve to reflect national realities, global best practices and changing youth dynamics.
He noted that the course must deliver quality and measurable outcomes that would enable corps members to integrate effectively into their host communities and transition into productive lives after national service.
Explaining that the Pre-Orientation Workshop was designed to review emerging challenges, identify operational gaps and develop practical improvements capable of enhancing the overall national service experience.
The DG also urged participants to propose innovative, technology-driven ideas that would strengthen camp management, improve operational efficiency and deepen stakeholder engagement.
The NYSC Director-General commended officials of the scheme and partner agencies for their teamwork, which he said contributed to the success of previous orientation exercises.
He challenged workshop participants to develop strategies that would transform the orientation course into a dynamic platform that prepares corps members not only to serve, but to lead, innovate and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Nura Umar, described the workshop theme as timely and strategic.
Mr. Umar said the orientation course plays a critical role in shaping the mindset, conduct and overall experience of corps members, while instilling core NYSC values such as discipline and patriotism.
He added that the workshop would review the conduct of past orientation exercises, address operational challenges and strengthen inter-agency collaboration, with the aim of improving service delivery and ensuring a safer, more inclusive camp environment for corps members nationwide.