Esther Salifu
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says it is working closely with professional and regulatory bodies to reposition Nigerian graduates as globally competitive professionals, ethical leaders, and entrepreneurs.
Speaking at the 4th meeting of the Scheme with heads of professional and regulatory institutions in Abuja, NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, said the collaboration has been central to sustaining the mobilisation process and ensuring corps members acquire relevant certifications.
“Professional skills and certification would add more value to the academic qualifications acquired by any individual,” Nafiu explained.
He stressed that the future of the country depends on equipping young Nigerians to create opportunities rather than depend solely on employment.
“Our graduates cannot merely be job seekers but must be job creators, investors and globally certified professionals,” he said.
Highlighting the Scheme’s 52-year contribution to national unity and development, the DG assured stakeholders that NYSC will continue to provide manpower while transforming the service year into “a cubicle of professional excellence, ethical leadership and entrepreneurial innovation.”
“I am confident that with your support we can form a new legacy of competence and integrity. The future of Nigeria is in the hands of our youths. How we equip them today, will determine the prosperity, unity and global competitiveness of our nation tomorrow,” Nafiu added.
Also speaking, the NYSC Director of Corps Mobilisation, Abubakar Muhammed, acknowledged the progress recorded through collaboration with regulatory bodies, noting that it has improved mobilisation procedures.
“The partnership has yielded tangible benefits over the years, including enhanced efficiency, though some procedural gaps still need to be addressed,” Muhammed said.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Education, JAMB, NECO, NBTE, and other critical stakeholders in the country’s education and professional sectors.
