RismadarVoice Reporters, May 8, 2026
The Director of Reforms, Coordination and Service Improvement at the National Youth Service Corps headquarters in Abuja, Chief Chinwendu Ogbonnanya Chukwu, has urged Corps Members in Lagos State to make productive use of their one-year national service instead of treating it as a period of leisure or idleness.
Speaking during an official visit to the Lagos State NYSC Orientation Camp in Iyana-Ipaja, Chukwu described the service year as an important opportunity for personal development, skill acquisition, and national contribution.
He encouraged Corps Members to actively participate in the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, stressing that practical skills remain vital for future self-reliance and economic success.
“Learning a skill is never a waste,” he said, noting that the NYSC scheme was designed not only to foster national unity but also to equip young graduates with tools for long-term growth and independence.
The director also reaffirmed the scheme’s commitment to promoting national integration, urging participants to build relationships that transcend ethnic and regional divisions.
According to him, inter-ethnic interactions and relationships, including marriages between people from different parts of the country, can strengthen unity and deepen mutual understanding among Nigerians.
He, however, cautioned that his remarks should not be interpreted as support for indiscipline or immoral conduct within the orientation camp.
Earlier, the Lagos State Coordinator of the NYSC, Christiana Salmwang, informed the visiting director that Corps Members had shown a high level of commitment and enthusiasm since the commencement of the orientation exercise.
She disclosed that a total of 8,027 Corps Members drawn from Lagos and five other states Kwara, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, and Oyo are participating in the orientation programme.
According to the breakdown provided, the figure comprises 3,179 male and 4,848 female Corps Members.
Lagos State accounted for the highest number, with 1,824 males and 2,582 females deployed to the camp. Ekiti State recorded 395 males and 786 females, while Ogun State had 210 males and 629 females.
Ondo State contributed 244 male and 266 female Corps Members, Oyo State had 216 males and 275 females, while Kwara State recorded 290 males and 310 females.
The visit ended on a colourful note as Platoon 4 entertained guests with a cultural dance presentation showcasing the Badagry heritage.
A vote of thanks was later delivered by the Corps Camp Director, Oluwapelumi Emmanuel.
In a related development, Chukwu also met with NYSC staff in Lagos, where he commended workers for their dedication, commitment, and recent promotions within the organisation.
