• 10 PWDs also get automatic employment

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate employment of 200 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) honorees into the federal civil service, awarding each recipient N250,000 in recognition of their outstanding service during the 2020–2023 service years.

Represented by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, at the combined President’s NYSC Honours Award Ceremony (2020–2023) in Abuja, President Tinubu celebrated the awardees for their “discipline, commitment, selflessness, teamwork, patriotism, and integrity.”

In a move hailed as both historic and motivational, the President assured the honorees that the “Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission will immediately begin their employment process.”

In a significant show of inclusivity, President Tinubu also announced that 10 physically challenged former corps members, who sustained varying degrees of disability while serving, will also be offered federal employment. “We will never forget their sacrifice,” he emphasised.

Beyond automatic employment and cash awards, every honoree—including those with disabilities—will receive a scholarship to pursue a postgraduate degree at any Nigerian university.

“In appreciation of their service to the nation, all the awardees will receive N250,000. Finally, each award recipient will be granted a scholarship to pursue postgraduate programmes up to a degree in any university in the country,” he declared.

President Tinubu reinforced the administration’s commitment to youth empowerment: “In appreciation of these critical roles played by youth in national development, and to put them in the foreground of our economy, the government developed several youth-related programmes, covering education, skills development, technology, and information sustainability.”

The President’s gesture underscored the NYSC’s role, established in 1973, as a bedrock of national development. Tinubu called on the honorees and Nigerian youths alike “to continue to have faith in Nigeria,” urging them not to yield to those “seeking to destabilise the nation.”

The ceremony recognised the best overall performers among both male and female awardees.

The top four male awardees were:

Nunaya Polycarp Nunaya (20B – KW/20B/0001) from Adamawa State, who served in Kwara State; Okpogbo Alvin Chinedu (21A) from Imo State, who served in Cross River State; Dr Ugwa Obinna Mark (23B) from Abia State, who served in Cross River State; and Rabiu Quadri Mayokun (23C) from Osun State, who served in Rivers State.

In the female category, the best overall awardees were: Akase Pati Ence Nguwasen (21A) from Benue State, who served in Gombe State; and Igwe Anne Chikaodi (23C) from Enugu State, who served in Sokoto State.

Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, lauded President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to the future of Nigerian youth. “Your presence here is a testament to the deep-rooted love you have for our nation’s young people,” highlighting the President’s record of supporting youth development initiatives.

The Minister emphasised that the ceremony was an opportunity to recognise the hard work, creativity, and integrity demonstrated by ex-corps members from across Nigeria. “Each outstanding honoree here today exemplifies the very best of what our youth can achieve. Their positive character and commitment have made them true role models, inspiring others nationwide,” he stated.

Olawande reaffirmed the federal government’s dedication to empowering youth through programmes focused on startup support, job creation—especially in the areas of technology and renewable energy—and expanded opportunities for leadership. He noted, “Many young people have been appointed as ministers and heads of agencies, ensuring youth voices are heard and respected at the highest levels.”

He applauded the recent increase in NYSC members’ allowance from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000, underscoring that this adjustment was a response to current economic demands and not a political gesture. “This decision reflects our recognition of the vital role youth play in nation-building,” Olawande said.

Commending the NYSC’s founding members and past leadership, the Minister praised successive generations of corps members for their continued dedication, particularly in advancing national development in rural communities. He pledged his ministry’s ongoing support to strengthen the NYSC and ensure its positive impact endures.

Olawande concluded by acknowledging the unprecedented collaboration from the National Assembly in supporting the Ministry of Youth Development. He said, “For four decades, our youth have felt disconnected from government, but today, by bringing renewal to the youth, this administration is restoring faith and participation in national progress. We are grateful for your vision and commitment, and we believe in your leadership.”

The Minister also expressed gratitude to the staff of the Ministry of Youth Development, the NYSC management, and partner agencies for their steadfast support, reaffirming the shared pursuit of a united, prosperous nation where youth are at the centre of growth and development.

Director-General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, in his remarks, lauded the contributions of Nigerian youth to the nation’s progress, declaring them “the future of our great nation and a vital force for our collective progress and preservation of our social, cultural, and national heritage.”

Nafiu hailed recent government initiatives, expressing gratitude for President Tinubu’s approval of an ₦77,000 allowance for corps members. “This has gone a long way in boosting the morale and strength of corps members’ commitment,” he said.

The DG noted that beyond improved remuneration, the administration’s broader youth-focused agenda—such as the revitalised Nigerian Youth Investment Fund and the National Talent Export Programme—has “given corps members greater access to post-service funding and global tech opportunities.” According to Nafiu, these reforms are not “mere policies but tools of landmark transformation that will undoubtedly stand the test of time.”

He also expressed optimism over the anticipated signing of the NYSC Trust Fund Bill, calling it a “landmark piece of legislation” poised to establish a sustainable funding framework for the scheme.

Highlighting the scope of national service, Nafiu disclosed the presentation of the President’s Honours Award to 200 former corps members who served between 2020 and 2023, selected through “a rigorous multilevel screening process that assessed their service record, community impact, civic engagement, and values.” He also announced recognition for 10 recipients of the NYSC Hope Alive Programme—ex-corps members who “sustained life-altering injuries during their service but remain undeterred in their dedication to the nation. They are not just honorees, they are heroes of our Republic.”

The Director-General took a moment of solemnity to remember four members who “paid the supreme price during the course of serving our nation,” recognising their sacrifice and commitment. He stressed that the diverse roles corps members have played, ranging from supporting national elections and driving voter education to promoting ICT literacy in rural schools and advancing healthcare in remote areas.

“In 2025 alone, we engaged 6,340 core medical personnel, including 2,319 doctors, to expand access to free healthcare in remote areas. Through our Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers, over 4 million Nigerians benefited from free health services, malaria testing, health education, and disease prevention campaigns,” Nafiu stated.

He added that the NYSC’s skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development programme has been restructured to focus on “technology-driven and market-relevant training,” with over 250,000 corps members trained annually.

“As Director-General, I remain deeply committed to protecting the integrity of the NYSC. The scheme is a symbol of national trust, and we are taking decisive steps to safeguard every aspect of our operations, from mobilisation to deployment and service delivery,” Nafiu declared.

The NYSC, he assured, “remains a living, working institution, actively shaping lives and building the nation from the ground up.” The reform agenda, he explained, is built on four pillars: security and well-being, personal growth, workforce resilience, and strategic communication. “We are building a scheme that delivers material comfort, teaches relevant skills, and restores the beauty to the idea of national duty,” he said.

Addressing the awardees, Nafiu urged them to embrace their new roles as ambassadors of unity. “You may no longer wear khaki, but you now wear something even more enduring: the confidence of a great nation. This award should signify yet another chapter in your resolve and commitment to selfless dedication to serving your country, as you remain ambassadors of unity and innovators of hope,” he concluded.

Nafiu ended by reminding the nation: “May this event remind us all that service still matters, that unity still defines our strength, and more importantly, that the Nigerian youth are the future of our great nation. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Ezieme Francis Uba, one of the awardees, reflected with gratitude on the day’s significance. “I feel joyful and I’m grateful for Mr President for the honour of giving us this award,” he said. On being granted automatic employment, Uba added, “Nothing gives greater joy than seeing that you are gainfully employed. Given this opportunity, I’m very happy. I thank my parents for their motivation, my friends, even my S-Corps member friends, and I pray that the Lord will bless them.”