The Young Leaders Forum of Nigeria (YLFN) has lauded the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for its sustained contributions to nation-building, national integration, and educational development, particularly in rural communities, while urging the Federal Government to prioritise improved funding for the scheme instead of embarking on structural reforms.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Coordinator, Dr. Marcus Abechi, the forum described the NYSC as one of Nigeria’s most enduring and impactful national institutions, noting that it has consistently fulfilled its core mandate of fostering unity among young Nigerians and promoting peaceful coexistence across ethnic, religious and regional divides.
The group maintained that the scheme has gone beyond its primary objective by making significant contributions to education, healthcare, agriculture and community development, especially in underserved rural areas where corps members continue to bridge critical manpower gaps.
According to the statement, thousands of corps members have sustained academic activities in public schools lacking adequate teachers, while others have served as healthcare workers, agricultural extension officers, legal aid providers and community development advocates, complementing government efforts in delivering essential social services.
“The NYSC remains one of the most successful nation-building programmes ever established in Nigeria. For over five decades, it has continued to unite young Nigerians while making invaluable contributions to education, healthcare, agriculture and community development.
“In many rural communities, corps members have sustained academic activities in public schools where teachers are insufficient, thereby improving access to quality education and inspiring thousands of young Nigerians. These contributions should be strengthened and not undermined,” the forum stated.
The YLFN also defended the NYSC’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, describing it as one of the scheme’s notable achievements that has continued to equip corps members with vocational, entrepreneurial and business management skills needed for self-reliance after national service.
It argued that the challenge facing the SAED initiative was not its structure but inadequate funding, stressing that there was no need to transform the NYSC into a conventional skills acquisition centre.
According to the group, increased financial support would enable the scheme to expand its skills acquisition programmes, strengthen youth empowerment initiatives, improve corps members’ welfare, provide better post-training support and execute more impactful community development projects.
The forum cautioned against reforms that could alter the core mandate of the NYSC, warning that such changes might weaken its historic role as Nigeria’s foremost platform for national integration.
It therefore urged the Federal Government, the National Assembly and other stakeholders to channel greater resources towards strengthening the existing structure of the scheme rather than pursuing reforms capable of diverting it from its original objectives.
“The NYSC has continued to justify its existence through its immense contributions to national unity and grassroots development. Rather than changing its identity, government should provide the financial support necessary for the scheme to consolidate its achievements and effectively deliver on both its primary and secondary mandates.
“A well-funded NYSC will be better positioned to produce more empowered youths, stronger communities and a more united Nigeria,” the statement added.
