President Bola Tinubu has announced the most far-reaching reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) since its establishment in 1973, extending the orientation programme to six weeks, introducing specialised skills training, and approving the deployment of corps members to security-challenged states based on risk assessments.
The President also reaffirmed that the NYSC would continue to be headed by a civilian Director-General, replacing the previous practice of appointing military officers to lead the scheme.
In a statement shared on his official X account, Tinubu said the reforms are aimed at transforming the NYSC into a platform that equips young Nigerians with practical skills, enhances employability, and promotes national development.
According to him, the new six-week orientation programme will begin with civic responsibility, leadership, values, and personal development before moving into career readiness, entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and financial skills. Corps members will also receive specialised training tailored to their academic backgrounds and career paths.
The specialised training will cover sectors including agriculture, health, education, technology, law, public service, infrastructure, the green economy, enterprise, the creative economy, and para-military/security services.
Tinubu explained that corps members would now be deployed to security-challenged states only after thorough risk assessments, as part of efforts to balance national service with the safety of participants.
Describing the reforms as the most consequential in the history of the scheme, the President said they reflect his administration’s commitment to empowering Nigerian youths.
“On the day I was sworn in as your President, I promised to create meaningful opportunities for our young people. I said women and youth would feature prominently in our administration, and this reform is partly the actualisation of that promise,” he said.
Tinubu noted that while the NYSC’s core mission of promoting national unity remains vital, the realities of modern Nigeria require a more dynamic approach.
“For 53 years, the NYSC has served the cause of national unity. That mission remains important and must be preserved. But the Nigeria of today demands more. Our young people are nearly 70 per cent of our population. They are not a burden to be managed; they are the engine of the one-trillion-dollar economy we are building and the hope of this nation,” he stated.
The reforms follow the Federal Executive Council’s approval on Monday, as announced by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, and the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman.
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