The Director-General of Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has urged newly deployed corps members in Rivers State to equip themselves for future leadership roles by actively engaging in skills acquisition programs during their orientation.
Addressing the 2026 Batch C Stream I corps members at the NYSC permanent orientation camp in Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area, Nafiu emphasized the importance of vocational training in building financial independence.
”This is to create sustainable wealth for yourselves by growing multiple sources of income,” Nafiu said during his address.
He cautioned the participants against risky behavior, urging them to remain security-conscious, avoid night travel, exercise discretion on social media, and refrain from unlawful activities.
Nafiu also highlighted the corps members’ role in national elections, instructing them to maintain strict political neutrality when assigned as ad-hoc staff for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
”Be apolitical, honest, and credible when discharging your INEC ad-hoc duties, as your integrity must be visible to all Nigerians,” he added.
During the visit, the director-general announced that the federal government had approved an upward revision of camp feeding allowances for corps members. He noted that plans are underway to roll out improved, higher-quality uniform kits next year.
Speaking earlier, NYSC Rivers State Coordinator Moses Oleghe reported that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara had approved an increase in state monthly allowances for corps members. Under the new structure, corps members deployed to urban areas will receive N20,000, while those serving in rural areas will be paid N35,000.
Nafiu was accompanied on the inspection tour by senior NYSC officials, including Information and Public Relations Director Carol William Embu, Special Duties Director George Mfongang, and Acting South-South Area Office II Director Olayinka Diana Nasamu.
