The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has charged Corps members to uphold the core values of the Scheme as they begin their one-year national service.
General Nafiu gave the charge while addressing the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream One Corps members at separate orientation camps in Ede, Osun State, and at the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, where the ongoing orientation course is taking place.
This was contained in a statement on Tuesday, 3rd February, 2026, by Caroline Embu, Director of Information and Public Relations to the Scheme.
He said the enduring strength of the NYSC since its establishment in 1973 has been anchored on values such as selfless service, patriotism, integrity, efficiency, commitment and teamwork.
According to him, it is the responsibility of present and future Corps members to imbibe these virtues in order to sustain the vision and legacy of the Scheme’s founding fathers.
The DG reminded the Corps members that the NYSC was created to promote national unity, integration and development by harnessing the intellectual capacity and creativity of young Nigerian graduates.
He stressed that the task of nation building now rests on their shoulders, urging them to continue from where earlier generations left off. Quoting 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” the General stated.
General Nafiu also encouraged the Corps members to participate actively in all orientation course activities, noting that the programme was designed to deepen their understanding of Nigeria and prepare them for the responsibilities they would face during and after the service year.
He advised them to internalize the physical, mental and intellectual training offered during the orientation exercise to ensure a rewarding and fulfilling service experience.
The DG further urged them to adapt quickly to their host communities after camp and to respect local customs and traditions in order to earn goodwill.
The NYSC helmsman also called on the young graduates to take advantage of the service year to acquire skills and attributes that would distinguish them as future leaders.
He encouraged them to interact freely and build friendships across ethnic, religious and cultural lines, describing the Scheme as a platform for creating networks that could prove valuable in the future.
Earlier, the Osun State NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Ekeng Ita Kubiangha, informed the DG that the 1,864 Corps members registered in the camp had been well behaved and were actively participating in all camp activities.
Similarly, the Kwara State Coordinator, Mr. Onifade Joshua, reported that Corps members deployed to the state had conducted themselves commendably.
He also praised camp officials for their dedication and effectiveness in training and mentoring the Corps members.