The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced plans to introduce a standardised protocol for the management and welfare of Corps Members with disabilities during the Orientation Course and throughout the service year.
The Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, made this known in 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.”
General Nafiu said the initiative aligned with the Scheme’s welfare strategies and is designed to promote dignity, inclusion and equal opportunity for Corps Members living with disabilities, beyond mere regulatory compliance.
According to him, the move underscored NYSC’s commitment to leaving no one behind while strengthening its image as a humane, progressive and nationally responsive institution. He added that the use of emotional intelligence and empathy in all engagements with Corps Members and Camp officials was equally crucial.
The NYSC boss described the Orientation Course as the bedrock of a successful service year, stressed the need for it to continually reflect national realities, global best practices and the evolving dynamics of youth behaviour. He noted that the Course must deliver relevance, quality and measurable outcomes that would enable Corps Members to integrate seamlessly into their host communities and transition into productive lives after national service.
General Nafiu explained that the Pre-Orientation Workshop was essential for reviewing emerging challenges and developing practical improvements capable of enhancing the National Service experience and addressing contemporary realities.
He commended NYSC officials and partner agencies for their collaboration, which he said had contributed to the successes recorded in previous Orientation exercises. He urged participants to generate innovative, technology-driven ideas that would boost operational efficiency, improve Camp management and deepen stakeholder engagement.
“We expect contributions that will transform the Orientation Course into a dynamic launchpad for transformative national service, preparing Corps Members not only to serve, but also to lead, innovate and make meaningful contributions to national development,” he said.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Nura Umar, described the workshop theme as strategic, noted that the Orientation Course plays a critical role in shaping the mindset, discipline and conduct of Corps Members.
He said the workshop would review the conduct of previous Orientation exercises, identify operational challenges and strengthen inter-agency collaboration with a view to delivering improved services at Orientation Camps nationwide.
