NYSC 53rd anniversary celebration highlights new annual awards plan as DG Nafiu promises reforms, welfare upgrades and staff recognition

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, on Friday in Abuja, Nigeria, announced that the NYSC 53rd anniversary celebration will henceforth be institutionalised as an annual nationwide event to recognise excellence, dedication and outstanding service among staff and corps members.

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Speaking at a command performance and anniversary lecture marking the scheme’s 53rd year, Nafiu said the initiative would serve both as a moment of reflection on the NYSC’s contributions to national development and as a platform for rewarding exceptional performance across all formations.

The announcement signals a major shift in the NYSC 53rd anniversary celebration framework, with the scheme set to introduce certificates of merit for individuals who demonstrate integrity, productivity and commitment in the course of national service.

“I am pleased to announce that the celebration of the NYSC anniversary shall henceforth be an annual event across all formations nationwide,” Nafiu said, noting that the programme would also highlight achievements within the organisation.

The NYSC chief reaffirmed management’s commitment to repositioning the scheme in line with evolving national needs, with renewed focus on corps members’ welfare, security and strategic communication.

He urged staff and corps members to uphold values of patriotism, discipline, integrity, teamwork and selfless service, describing them as central to sustaining the institution’s relevance.

The NYSC 53rd anniversary celebration also featured reflections on the scheme’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurial Development programme, which Nafiu said had empowered thousands of corps members with vocational skills, encouraging self-reliance and reducing dependence on white-collar employment.

He further highlighted the role of corps members in national assignments such as elections, census exercises, health campaigns, education support and disaster response, describing their contribution as vital to national cohesion.

“The dedication, discipline, and patriotism demonstrated by corps members and staff have continued to earn the trust and admiration of Nigerians,” he said.

The DG also paid tribute to past leaders, staff and corps members who lost their lives in active service, describing their sacrifice as an enduring legacy of national commitment.

Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who also spoke at the event, described the NYSC as one of Nigeria’s most respected youth institutions since its establishment in 1973, praising its role in fostering unity across ethnic and religious divides.

He said the scheme remains a symbol of national integration and social cohesion, bringing young Nigerians together in service regardless of background or belief.

The minister called on state governments to deepen collaboration with the NYSC through improved welfare support and stronger engagement of corps members deployed across the country.

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He added that Nigeria’s broader youth development agenda cannot be achieved without the NYSC, pledging continued federal support for entrepreneurship, innovation and empowerment programmes targeting young people.