The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has warned that organisations and institutions that fail to provide accommodation and transportation for corps members posted to them will be blacklisted from benefiting from the scheme.
General Nafiu issued the warning during an interactive session with corps members in Lokoja, Kogi State, as part of his working visit to the state.
He said the welfare of corps members remains a priority for the NYSC, stressing that employers must fulfil their obligations by providing a conducive environment for the young graduates serving under them.
The NYSC Director-General assured corps members of the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to their security and welfare. He also appealed to state and local governments, as well as other stakeholders, to strengthen their support for the scheme.
Emphasising the need for vigilance, Nafiu reminded corps members that security is everyone’s responsibility and urged them to promptly report suspicious activities to the appropriate security agencies.
He also charged them to remain disciplined, dedicated to duty and avoid acts capable of tarnishing the image of their families, institutions of graduation and the NYSC.
The Director-General encouraged the corps members to take the post-camp Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme seriously, describing it as a pathway to self-reliance and sustainable livelihood.
He urged them to identify business opportunities within their host communities and begin building entrepreneurial ventures even before completing their service year.
“Be proactive, identify business opportunities within your host communities, and start making some money for yourselves even now,” he advised.
While acknowledging the country’s prevailing economic challenges, Nafiu urged the corps members to cultivate the habit of saving and prudent financial management.
“Take your service year as a training ground for future financial management by managing your finances wisely,” he said.
Earlier, the Kogi State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Tochi Chika Chris-Moneke, appreciated the Director-General for the visit, describing it as a demonstration of his commitment to the welfare and security of corps members and staff.
She disclosed that the state secretariat was preparing to organise a corps employers’ workshop and implement the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) programme in the coming weeks to further strengthen the scheme’s impact in the state.
