The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has advised corps members not to abandon the national service scheme and to remain committed throughout the one-year programme.

Nafiu delivered the message while addressing 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream One corps members at orientation camps in Ogun and Oyo states, according to official briefings from the scheme.

During his visits to the camps, the NYSC director-general commended the corps members for reporting for orientation and urged them to comply fully with the rules and regulations guiding the service year.

He also advised them to manage their finances prudently, noting that sound financial habits would be beneficial during and after national service.

Nafiu further urged corps members to respect the cultures, customs and traditions of their host communities and to maintain good conduct at all times.

He advised them to be punctual, resourceful and compliant with the operational guidelines of their places of primary assignment when eventually posted.

The NYSC scheme was established in 1973 to promote national unity and integration by deploying Nigerian graduates to states outside their places of origin for community service and work experience. Participation in the scheme is mandatory for eligible graduates, except those exempted under the law.

In Ogun State, the NYSC coordinator, Olayinka Nasamu, informed the director-general that a total of 3,341 corps members were registered at the orientation camp. She said the figure included 975 corps members originally deployed to Lagos State who were redirected to Ogun.

Nasamu said the corps members had conducted themselves responsibly since the commencement of camp activities and had adjusted to the regimented environment of the orientation programme. She also reported that camp officials were carrying out their duties as assigned.

In Oyo State, the NYSC coordinator, Kayode Ola-Peters, said 3,068 corps members were registered at the orientation camp. He stated that the corps members had participated actively in camp activities and demonstrated readiness to contribute to national development during their service year.

NYSC officials routinely use orientation camp visits to reiterate the obligations of corps members and to emphasise compliance with service regulations. The scheme’s guidelines provide sanctions for offences such as absconding from service, refusal of posting and misconduct.

In recent years, the NYSC has continued to implement programmes aimed at strengthening the relevance of the service year, including the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development initiative, which exposes corps members to vocational and entrepreneurial training.

The federal government has also maintained oversight of the scheme through the Ministry of Youth Development, with officials stating that the NYSC remains a central component of Nigeria’s youth development and civic engagement framework.

Orientation camps across the country typically focus on physical training, civic education, leadership development and national integration. Corps members are subsequently deployed to their places of primary assignment, where they are expected to serve in public institutions, private organisations or community-based projects.

The NYSC leadership has said adherence to service rules and completion of the service year remain mandatory requirements for eligible participants, in line with the objectives of the scheme.