Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the NYSC leadership in Abuja on Monday.

He met the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, to strengthen electoral collaboration.

A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Adedayo Oketola, highlighted Amupitan’s remarks on NYSC’s importance.

Amupitan said the NYSC remained a critical pillar in Nigeria’s democratic and electoral architecture.

He said corps members had consistently supported elections since the return to democracy in 1999.

“I dare say INEC cannot conduct elections in Nigeria without the NYSC,” Amupitan stated.

He described corps members as the backbone of field election operations across the country.

“When we speak of election manpower, we are essentially speaking of your corps members,” he added.

He said their neutrality and discipline enhanced credibility at polling units nationwide.

“They are the most dedicated, educated and patriotic election staff we have,” he said.

Amupitan said their presence strengthened public confidence in electoral outcomes.

He noted that corps members served as ad hoc staff during elections nationwide.

“They form the backbone of our electoral process in every cycle,” he added.

He referenced INEC’s experience during the 2023 general elections as evidence of their importance.

INEC deployed about 1.2 million ad hoc staff during the 2023 polls.

“Over 70 per cent, nearly 850,000, were NYSC members and student volunteers,” Amupitan explained.

He said the 2027 elections would require an even larger mobilisation.

“INEC will deploy 707,384 corps members for the presidential and National Assembly elections.

“The same number will be required for governorship and state assembly elections. This brings the total requirement to 1,414,768 ad hoc personnel nationwide,” he said.

The INEC boss said additional corps members would support off-cycle and bye-elections, adding that about 52,446 corps members will be needed for such elections.

Amupitan said corps members made up nearly 90 per cent of key electoral officers.

He said they had safeguarded ballots across 176,846 polling units nationwide.

“These young Nigerians protected the sanctity of the ballot in difficult terrains,” he said.

He praised their role in the Anambra governorship and FCT Area Council elections.

He said their digital skills ensured effective use of the BVAS system.

“Their tech competence is central to modern electoral administration,” he added.

Amupitan assured that INEC was improving welfare and insurance for corps members.

“We are constantly refining safety and welfare measures for all ad hoc staff,” he said.

He stressed the importance of early training ahead of the 2027 elections while referencing upcoming off-cycle elections in Ekiti and Osun states.

“These elections will test our innovations before the 2027 general elections,” he said, requesting continued collaboration and support from the NYSC leadership.

In his response, NYSC Director-General commended the partnership, saying the NYSC-INEC Memorandum of Understanding had been in place since 2011.

Nafiu described corps members as credible, reliable and easily trainable personnel.

He noted that incoming Gen Z corps members were highly digitally skilled.

“Their digital competence will further strengthen electoral processes,” he said.

He assured INEC of continued NYSC support for all electoral activities.

“We remain committed to supporting credible elections in Nigeria,” Nafiu added.

Source: NAN

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The post INEC to deploy 1.4m corps members for 2027 elections appeared first on Frontpageng.

He made the declaration on Thursday during his visit to Osun State where, incidentally, he started his career.

According to the scheme’s foremost corps welfare officer, corps members, through their training and mentorship, have proven that NYSC is not a misplaced priority but a treasure that will take the country to her deserved place among the comity of nations.

Ayo-Omotade who spoke at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ede, while fielding questions from members of the Orientation Broadcasting Service, OBS, recalled with nostalgic feelings his humble beginning as a pioneer member of staff over 34 years ago in the state.

He advised corps members to imbibe the attributes of hard work, discipline and commitment, as that would take them far in life.

“Without being immodest, I am privileged to be a member of the team that commenced the groundbreaking of the NYSC structure in Osun State. We had nothing then, but commitment to make an impact and through our selfless combined efforts, you are now partakers of the programme that has united graduate youths across divides.

“No sacrifice can be greater or more meaningful than seeing the impact we have made on the successive corps members over the years, which has transformed you into a force to reckon with and numero uno when it comes to breaking barriers,” he said.

The pioneer farm manager when the scheme was established in Osun State and who later served as Personal Assistant to three State Coordinators – Chief (Mrs.) Foluso Asake Lasaki, late Pastor Isaac Olubayo Alamu and Mr. Fidelis Obijiofor Osakwe – admonished the corps members to serve the nation conscientiously and with all sense of responsibility.

He said the discipline and reward system were in place and would be applied appropriately.

He charged them to study the environment and come up with a blueprint that would make them contribute meaningfully to the development of the state, rather than gallivanting up and down seeking non-existent fortune.

“Right from the orientation camp and throughout the service year, NYSC has designed programmes that will build your capacity and expand your horizons. This is the reason for the assemblage of great minds to come together and address the challenges bedevilling us as a nation. You all have the capacity, deploy it to make Nigeria great again. Those who came before you laid a solid foundation, and the onus lies on you to build on it. Ensure that you do not destroy the foundation.”

The cerebral administrator, who is extremely passionate about health and well-being of corps members visited the Camp Clinic, where he interacted with Corps Members and had an interface with the consultants and medical team from Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, OAUTH.

The one time Director, NYSC South South and also North East Area Offices, later proceeded to the kitchen where he appreciated everyone, including corps members on duty, for preparing the meals under the most hygienic condition.

Ayo-Omotade, who holds the record as the first NYSC top management staff to combine State Coordinatorship with the Director of SSAO 1, lauded the NYSC Osun State Coordinator, Mr.  Ekeng Ita Kubiangha, for the giant strides he had achieved in less than a month of assumption of duty in the state.

In a related development, Ayo-Omotade, in company of the state coordinator visited the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, who doubles as Chairman, NYSC Osun State Governing Board, Hon. Moshood Olagunju, where he appealed to the government through his office to improve on the facilities and infrastructures at the camp.

He acknowledged the fact that Osun State government had enormous responsibility but pleaded that NYSC should remain in the front burner of government’s people oriented policies and programmes at all times.

In what has become his trademark of honour and unparalleled distinction, Ayo-Omotade who decked the NYSC uniform, reminiscent of his service year in Ogun State 36 years ago, rewarded some corps members, notably the Quarter Guard and OBS crew as well as security personnel manning the main gate of the camp.

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This is contained in a statement by the Media Information Officer, OPHK, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, on Thursday.

Uba said the rescued corps members, comprising 36 males and 38 females, were travelling in three buses when the vehicles broke down near a known kidnapping hotspot around 9:05 p.m. on Tuesday.

He said the troops were deployed to the scene after a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system monitored by the military detected suspicious movement of the stranded buses in the area.

“On arrival, the troops discovered that the passengers were NYSC members who had been stranded after their vehicles developed mechanical faults.

“The troops immediately secured the area and rescued them from a likely abduction attempt by Boko Haram or ISWAP terrorists operating in that axis,” he said.

Uba added that the rescued corps members were taken to the Buratai military base for safety, pending arrangements for their onward movement to their various destinations.

According to him, the Theatre Commander, OPHK, Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, commended the troops for their vigilance and quick response, which averted what could have been another tragic incident.

“The Theatre commander reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian military to ensuring the safety of all citizens and maintaining security across the North East region,” he added.

Source: NAN

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Governor Sanwo-Olu gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brig. Gen. Olakunle O. Nafiu, at Lagos House, Marina, on Thursday.

Speaking during the visit, Governor Sanwo-Olu commended the vital role corps members play in different communities in Lagos State and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to supporting them as they serve and grow.

He said his government was fully committed to building the NYSC permanent site project in Ikorodu.

He said: “We are being very deliberate and intentional. It is very gratifying that a large number of corps members in the country are in Lagos. I want to assure you again that we will continue to provide an enabling environment for corps members to feel wanted, loved and appreciated during their times in Lagos.

“We commend all our youth ‘corpers’. It is always something of joy to identify with them, to see those uniforms and to continue to encourage them and for them to thrive in whatever they do. It is a national pride and something that everybody must carry with dignity and honour.

“We will do whatever is expected of us to make their time and period here a memorable one. We want to assure you that as a government, we will continue to support and make the scheme interesting and memorable for corps members at all times.”

Speaking earlier, Brig. Gen. Nafiu commended Governor Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Government for the marvellous things they are doing for NYSC in Lagos, noting that based on the visible imprints everywhere, corps members are always excited to come to Lagos.

The NYSC boss said the purpose of his visit was to further cement the already cordial relationship that existed between the Lagos State government and the National Youth Service Corps.

He also pledged his organisation’s continued support in deploying corps members to Lagos State for socio-economic development.

He said: “Lagos State is the number one destination for corps members in the country. As of today, Lagos State has over 44,000 corps members serving in Lagos. NYSC has 303 doctors serving in Lagos State. We deployed about 7,148 teachers teaching in the public schools and 274 nurses. We have about 35,000 serving in other public and private sectors within the state, making Lagos State the highest in terms of core postings in the country.

“NYSC saved Lagos about N14.8 billion annually when we consider the cost of paying corps members in the state if they were to be employed full time. The NYSC scheme has continued to remain a viable scheme not only in uniting the country and building bridges across culture, religion and socio-economic divides, but it also contributes immensely to the socio-economic development of the state and communities where our corps members are deployed.

“We appreciate the security in Lagos. It makes it very peaceful, and parents are always eager and comfortable when their sons and daughters are posted to Lagos. Parents are comfortable with their daughters serving in Lagos State. Lagos State consistently for the past five or six years has been having more female corps members than male corps members. We want to thank the governor for the enabling environment you have continuously provided for us in Lagos State.”

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Watching the moments when two hitherto unknown, young Nigerian women were forced into our collective consciousness reminded me of what media scholars have been saying for a while: we are all accidental journalists now. The worrying thing for those who care about these issues is that the stories of Comfort Emmanson and Jennifer Edema Elohor show us that while citizen witnessing puts ordinary people ‘in charge,’ it is dangerous power.

It is difficult to miss the two starkly different viral videos. The first one, involving Comfort Emmanson in that infamous altercation with crew and what looked like ground staff of an Ibom Air flight exploded not just because of the young woman’s shockingly embarrassing behaviour but also because of the risqué video content that showed her naked bust. The second one, involving a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is far more sobering, grim even, for the brutal assault masterminded by members of a certain vigilante in Anambra. Understandably, both videos went viral, shared multiple times by social media users at breathtaking speed.

The two incidents took place in contrasting situations but they are connected by the same principle, the crystallisation of a revolution that started when ordinary people with no journalism training became powerful, sometimes reckless storytellers, editors and publishers – armed with just their smartphones. This revolution should jolt us into taking note of our new reality, demanding that we go beyond the emotions associated with those events to interrogate whether in our quest to be citizen witnesses, we are creating a more just society or simply a more vicious one?

Those videos go beyond just sharing gossip; they represent a significant shift in the power dynamics that mirrors a global transformation. The people who filmed Comfort Emmanson and Jennifer Edema Elohor joined a growing practice of citizen witnessing or what media scholars like to call ‘accidental journalism,’ which in essence  refers to how ordinary people, without any formal training or editorial oversight, create the news simply by being present with a recording device. They are following a tradition established by the likes of George Holliday, the plumber who filmed Rodney King’s brutal beating in Los Angeles in 1991, to Sohaib Athar, the IT consultant in Pakistan who live-tweeted the raid on Osama bin Laden without knowing it. They are examples of citizen witnessing, a simple but powerful act, now enhanced, thanks to social media, and which allows ordinary people to bypass the gatekeepers and produce raw, unfiltered testimony directly onto our screens.

Here is the issue: this newfound power is instantly complicated and ethically fraught. Think about this for a moment, you happen on an event; you bring out your smartphone to record and without thinking, go ahead to share in your ‘small network.’ Innocuous, you might be tempted to think but not so from what we know. The moment you decide to lift your phone and hit ‘record;’ you stop being the passive bystander and media consumer that legacy media organisations had dealt with for long. For in that moment, you make the decision to ‘be involved.’ It’s exciting to be involved but this is not just a cultural choice; once you enter this terrain, you are stepping into a legal and constitutional grey area. Just so we know, Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the right to privacy of citizens, their homes, correspondence, and communications.

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I know for historical factors, this is something probably low down on the list of national issues but the culture of non-consensual recording and sharing has the potential to directly challenge the fundamental right to privacy, a pillar of our democracy. Here is something to consider the next time you are tempted to become involved: Are you just a neutral observer documenting an event of public interest or an active participant in a potential breach of privacy and dignity? Would that piece of content qualify for evidence of a crime or amount to a modern-day public shaming? This really is the dilemma I see in those two events; which makes them perfect case studies for us to critically interrogate citizen witnessing’s dual nature.

The real lesson is to recognise the profound weight of the power in the smartphone and to use it with a new sense of responsibility. Before we record, we must pause and interrogate our own motivation: what is my true role in this situation?

Take the Youth Corper’s video as an example; on its own, that can be used to make a compelling case in support of this phenomenon. That video is an excellent piece of evidence of a horrific crime, the creation of which we can all agree is ‘clearly in the public interest,’ thereby potentially justifying the intrusion. As with similar pieces of content, the video gave voice to a victim when traditional systems might have failed or been slow to react, leading to concrete action against the offenders. The arrests and official condemnation of the people responsible for that attack are a compelling arguments for citizen witnessing operating at its ideal best. A digital check on power, something that strengthens accountability, empowering the vulnerable.

In contrast, the Comfort Emmanson video, shows us something different. This is one in which citizen witnessing looks less like a pursuit of justice and more like the activation of a digital mob, eager to try, convict, and punish an individual for a personal dispute. This is where digital culture directly collides with constitutional law. The recording and distribution of her, topless and without consent for the purpose of ridicule and public scorn, can be seen as a violation of her constitutional right to privacy under Section 37. This changes our understanding of the incident, from a mere viral moment into a case study of how our online behaviours can erode the very rights that underpin our society. And it is where a nearly 100-year-old argument between two American thinkers becomes relevant for our understanding of the moment. The journalist and political commentator Walter Lippmann did not trust the public’s ability to rationally understand complex events. He saw the ‘untrained accidental witness’ as an active threat to a coherent truth, principally because they are inherently prone to emotion, bias, and a lack of context. Watching from his grave, Lippmann would have viewed the online frenzy and vitriolic commentary about Emmanson and feared that his worst fears have been confirmed. That is because a decontextualised clip was enough to fuel a rash, emotional rush to judgement, with scant regard for the full story, the underlying causes of the conflict, or her fundamental right to simply have a bad day without it defining her life.

Lipmann’s intellectual rival, the philosopher John Dewey, would most likely have had more faith in the collective public. Dewey believed in the ‘embodied knowledge’ of ordinary people and valued participatory democracy. I imagine he would have argued that even the messy, often flawed act of recording and sharing is the public’s way of seizing the narrative from powerful, opaque institutions – be it a major airline, a government agency, or the police – that have historically ignored or mistreated them. In this more optimistic view, the very act of pressing ‘record’ is a democratic one, a way for the ruled to observe and challenge the rulers. However, even Dewey might be alarmed by the lack of deliberation and the mob-like mentality that can so easily emerge from these digital gatherings, a mentality that casually disregards entrenched legal protections.

The flip side of all these is that as powerful as this seems to be for enhancing participatory media in a democratic setting, this tool has a razor-sharp edge with real-world legal implications. Aside the court of public opinion, there is the real court of law in Nigeria, where the largely ignored Cybercrimes Act of 2015 provides a crucial legal framework for those who like to record and share. Section 24 of the Act makes it a crime to send messages that are “grossly offensive, pornographic or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character” through a computer system. This is the critical legal pivot, which could be interesting. Could a video of a public argument, shared with the deliberate intent to shame, harass, incite hatred, or bully an individual – turning them into an object of ridicule like Comfort Emmanson – be easily interpreted by a court as crossing that legal line from mere documentation into the realm of cyberstalking. The intention for sharing is as crucial as the content itself; a point often missed in the whole dramatic rush to publish and share. The understanding of the act of sharing is, therefore, significantly altered – from a mere cultural behaviour into a potentially criminal one – punishable by a fine of up to ₦7 million- or three-years imprisonment. Suddenly, participants in a digital shaming campaign aren’t just followers of a toxic cultural norm; they could be potential defendants, their online actions carrying the same weight as offline ones.

This is interesting because it suddenly looks like both a legal and ethical tightrope, which leave all of us who create and share contents of this nature in a precarious position. Yes, social media has democratised communication and handed us power but withholding the manual. The same tool that humbles a violent monarch can just as easily destroy a young woman for having an argument.

The tendency would be for the one who witnesses and records a crime scene to be hailed a hero while the one who films a personal meltdown for clout effectively becomes a bully. The culture that encourages people to share before verification, promoted by the algorithms of outrage, is at odds the sober principles of justice, privacy, and dignity enshrined in our laws. Riding on the fleeting mood of the online crowd, there is only a thin separating both. The result? A society where everyone is both a potential watchdog and a potential victim, where a single mistake can be amplified into a life-altering event.

So, do we lock up our phones to prevent us from committing infractions? In a nation like Nigeria, where official routes to justice can be slow or corrupt, citizen footage are helping to impose some level of forced transparency and accountability. The real lesson is to recognise the profound weight of the power in the smartphone and to use it with a new sense of responsibility. Before we record, we must pause and interrogate our own motivation: what is my true role in this situation?

*Dr. Olaniyan is the Convener, Centre for Social Media Research, Lagos

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The suits, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/989/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CS/988/2020, were filed by Ogunjobi Blessing and Ayuba Vivian against the NYSC.

In a statement issued on Thursday by W. O. Lawal, chairman, and Malam Ibrahim Agunbiade, Secretary, of the Oyo State chapter, MURIC said it viewed the judgment as a significant victory for religious freedom and accommodation, particularly for female Muslim and Christianity corps members who wished to wear the hijab or other religious attire as demanded by their faith.

In light of the judgment, MURIC said its Oyo State chapter called on Christians to reconsider their opposition to Muslim women wearing hijab in public spaces.

It said given the court’s recognition of the importance of accommodating different religious practices, MURIC said it believed that Christians should no longer oppose Muslims on the issue of hijab.

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“It should be noted that the two female corpers who took the NYSC to court are Christians (Blessing and Vivian). They found the NYSC trousers unacceptable to their faith and took NYSC to court.

“MURIC’s stance is that promoting Islamic values and practices is essential in preserving the religious identity of Muslims in a pluralistic society,” the group said.

The organisation advocated for the rights of Muslim women to wear the hijab or other religious attires, free from discrimination and marginalization.

It said by supporting the judgment, it aimed to promote greater religious freedom, diversity, and inclusion in society and to ensure that Muslims were treated with dignity and respect in accordance with the principles of justice and equality.

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The corps members were also empowered with starter packs to start their own businesses.

The items were presented to the corps members by the Group Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of NNPC Ltd., Mr Bayo Ojulari, in Abuja on Thursday.

Ojulari was represented by Mr Roland Ewubare, the Group Chief Operating Officer of NNPC Ltd.

According to him, the initiative underscored NNPC Ltd.’s commitment to youth development and national progress.

Ojulari described the gesture as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future as well as a reflection of NNPCL’s values of integrity and excellence.

He praised the corps members, adding that they were selected from a highly competitive pool.

“You are exceptional candidates. We are proud to support your journey,” he said.

Ojulari urged the recipients to build purposeful businesses and uphold high standards.

“Use these resources wisely. They are seeds for your growth and transformation,” he advised.

The programme is a collaboration among NNPC Ltd. Foundation, NYSC, Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, and Kudimata Nigeria Ltd.

The aim is to improve lives through financial empowerment.

The Managing Director of NNPC Ltd. Foundation, Mrs Emmanuella Arukwe, said the project began with a focus on financial literacy.

“More than 800,000 corps members have participated since August 2023,” she said.

Arukwe said the training covered branding, funding, project viability, and more.

The 531 finalists scored at least 70 per cent to qualify after a rigorous selection process.

“Even those not selected today have gained skills to access loans and grants. This is a long-term investment in economic resilience,” she said.

Kudimata founder, Kathleen Erhimu, hailed the initiative as a milestone. “We are celebrating purpose and transformation. Our goal is to empower the youth for financial independence,” she said.

The Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, commended NNPC Ltd. for providing both training and tangible tools.

“Few partners offer such a complete package,” he said.

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Nafiu praised the foundation’s contribution to youth entrepreneurship.

“This will go a long way in helping the beneficiaries realise their business dreams,” he said.

In his remarks, the Registrar-General of CAC, Hussaini Magaji, represented by Hajiya Amina Fika, congratulated the recipients.

“Your success is a testament to your resilience and creativity,” he said.

He encouraged the beneficiaries to register their businesses formally.

“Take advantage of our online platforms to access funding and grow sustainable enterprises,” he urged.

One of the beneficiaries, Ozigi Faith, described the programme as life-changing.

“It is our first step to financial freedom.

“Let us stay focused and make the most of it,” he said.

Source: NAN

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The state coordinator made the charge in her farewell remarks to the 2025 Batch ‘A’ (Stream 1) corps members deployed to Ondo State and their counterparts dislodged from Lagos State.

Speaking during the closing ceremony of the three weeks orientation course, held at the Parade Ground of the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko, Bakare admonished them to invest their youthful energy into the development and transformation of the rural communities by embarking on projects that meet their immediate needs.

“As you go into the field for your primary assignment, I enjoin you to accept your postings in good faith and engrave your names on stones in the development and transformation of the rural communities by embarking on impactful projects that will make you a hero.”

She reminded them of the need to imbibe and internalise the lessons they had learnt within the spell of the orientation course and make them their guiding principles throughout the service year and beyond.

The NYSC Ondo State boss reassured the corps members that Ondo and Lagos states were peaceful and that one of the priorities of the government of the two states was the safety of lives and property of all, irrespective of political, ethnic or religious leanings.

“Nevertheless, you have a role to play in this by making sure you are identified as corps members all the time and avoid mixing with miscreants and hoodlums,” she advised.

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On Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, SAED, programme, the scheme’s helmsman in the Sunshine state enjoined the corps participants to acquire at least one life skill before the end of the service year, thus contributing to the socio-economic development of Ondo and Lagos states respectfully.

She encouraged them to obtain permission from the relevant authorities before embarking on any journey and appealed to them not to travel in the night for any reason.

Out of the 1,373 corps members deployed to Ondo State, 305 applicants were successful in their relocation bid, and have been released to other states of the federation while those relocated from Lagos could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of Letter of Commendation to the Camp Commandant, Captain E.O. Okakah and Comrade Charles Adanri as Best Non-NYSC Camp Official and Best NYSC Camp Official respectively.

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The Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday during the inauguration of the committee.

He noted that the NYSC had long been a pillar of national integration, promoting unity across Nigeria’s diverse cultures while providing young Nigerians with valuable life experiences.

“Today signifies an important step forward in our collective journey to improve one of Nigeria’s most valuable national institutions dedicated to unity, empowerment, and development,” Olawande said.

He emphasised the vital role the NYSC had played in fostering national unity and youth development since its inception in 1973, but stressed that it was now time to reassess and modernise the scheme to reflect contemporary realities and challenges.

“As the nation advances, we must improve the institutions that support its development.

“While the NYSC has made remarkable progress, it also faces significant challenges, particularly concerning the safety of corps members, infrastructural deficits, and questions about the scheme’s relevance in a changing socio-economic landscape,” he said.

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Olawande explained that the committee’s mandate includes conducting a comprehensive review of the scheme, assessing its current operations, and proposing reforms to make it more secure, innovative, and impactful.

“Our goal is to transform NYSC into a platform that offers youth better opportunities in skill acquisition, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and career development,” he added.

“The committee will also review existing policy documents, laws, and reports guiding the NYSC; engage in consultations with stakeholders nationwide; and recommend legal, policy, and institutional reforms, including improved funding and monitoring frameworks.

“A comprehensive report is expected to be submitted to the Minister of Youth,” he said.

In her remarks, Hajiya Hadiza Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, stressed the need to restructure technical and vocational training in alignment with academic development.

She said such reforms would enable young people to make long-term contributions to their communities and the country.

Also speaking, Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, proposed the creation of a Teachers’ Corps and Medical Corps for NCE-certified graduates and healthcare professionals, especially those willing to serve in rural areas for a voluntary two-year period.

He said the Teachers’ Corps would help address educational gaps and offer a path to government employment, while the Medical Corps would strengthen healthcare delivery in underserved communities, particularly in maternal and child health.

Source: NAN

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He said it was also to provide early treatment for those who test positive before their condition degenerate to drug dependence and other health challenges.

Marwa stated these during a meeting with the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig Gen Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, who led top officials of NYSC on a courtesy visit to the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday 23rd April 2025.

He congratulated the NYSC boss on his recent appointment while he described the scheme as a national treasure and a veritable instrument of national unity.

According to the NDLEA boss, “the drug scourge has continued to devastate our kids, families, communities, everywhere; there’s nowhere you go in the country that you don’t have a drug abuse problem. One in seven Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64, use drugs. You have mentioned our efforts to cut off access and availability of these drugs but beyond that we have to work with all stakeholders including NYSC to ensure drastic reduction in the demand for drugs by our youths and one of our strategies to address this is through our drug integrity test, which we’re advocating that NYSC should embrace for corps members.

“As I said, while we do the drug supply reduction, we also do drug demand reduction through preventive measures, as well as counseling and rehabilitation. Now, these are important areas for further collaboration. You have introduced in the camps, the war against drug abuse clubs, which is fantastic. One other important area of collaboration is the question of drug integrity tests for youth corps members. It’s a major drug demand reduction effort. The same way we said, if you are getting married, both the bride and the groom, should bring a drug free certificate. This is because it is always better to detect drug use early before it gets to addiction which eventually could get to psychiatric problems and it becomes a danger to the user and the society.”

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He said another area of collaboration is the posting of a sizeable number of corps members who studied Guidance and Counselling, Psychology, Nursing and Psychiatry to NDLEA Counselling and Treatment Centres across the country as their place of primary assignment during their one-year national service.

He said that would enable the corps members acquire knowledge and experience in rehabilitation and psychosocial services.

In his response, the NYSC DG described the drug integrity test as a fantastic idea while he promised to study the NDLEA proposal for possible collaboration.

He assured that the scheme would develop a general guideline to post as many corps members with required qualifications to NDLEA Commands with Counselling and Treatment Centres across the country.

While appreciating Marwa for the giant strides NDLEA had recorded under his leadership, he noted the existing partnership between the agency and the NYSC, which he said his visit was to seek further means to deepen and strengthen the collaboration.

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