RismadarVoice Reporters
June 4, 2026
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has trained its state coordinators and top management staff on effective media engagement as part of efforts to strengthen public awareness of the scheme’s activities and achievements nationwide.
Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, disclosed this during a strategic media training workshop held in Abuja, themed “Strengthening NYSC Operations through Strategic Media Engagement: Contemporary Digital and Traditional Media Approaches.”
Nafiu said the workshop was designed to enhance communication capacity within the organisation and improve its ability to engage stakeholders through both traditional and digital media platforms.
He described the NYSC as one of Nigeria’s most enduring nation-building initiatives and stressed the need for the scheme to actively showcase its contributions to national development.
According to him, the recent celebration of the NYSC’s 53rd anniversary provided an opportunity to highlight the programme’s achievements, but more effort is needed to improve public understanding of its operations and impact.
“We live in an age where information spreads instantly. A single social media post can enhance or damage an institution’s reputation within minutes. We must remain vigilant,” Nafiu said.
He noted that many stakeholders, including prospective corps members, parents and members of the public, do not fully understand the scheme’s policies, rules and programmes, adding that effective media engagement would help bridge that gap.
The NYSC boss urged state coordinators to leverage both traditional and emerging media platforms to promote the organisation’s objectives while improving stakeholder engagement and service delivery.
He also charged them to strengthen their skills in media relations, crisis communication, digital engagement and reputation management, noting that their role as the public face of the scheme in their respective states makes effective communication essential.
Nafiu reaffirmed the scheme’s commitment to transparency, accountability and citizen engagement, saying the NYSC would continue to strengthen communication strategies at all levels.
Earlier, the Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, highlighted the growing importance of strategic communication in sustaining public confidence in the scheme.
She said the NYSC operates in a rapidly evolving media environment marked by misinformation, disinformation, sensational reporting and the widespread use of social media by young Nigerians.
According to Embu, these challenges make it necessary for state coordinators to acquire modern communication skills to effectively manage information and protect the image of the scheme.
“We cannot afford to diminish our publicity efforts; rather, we must intensify them by leveraging both traditional and emerging media platforms,” she said.
She urged participants to adopt innovative communication approaches, proactively project the scheme’s achievements and engage the media professionally and ethically.
The workshop forms part of the NYSC’s broader efforts to strengthen stakeholder relations, improve public perception and enhance the visibility of its programmes across the country.
