Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has tasked members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on national transformation during their service year.
Sanwo-Olu gave the charge on Friday at the opening and swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.
The governor was represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende.
He urged the corps members to embrace patriotism, entrepreneurship and leadership during the service year.
The governor said that the NYSC scheme remained a veritable platform for promoting national unity, integration and peaceful coexistence among young Nigerians.
“Your service year provides a unique opportunity to build bridges across cultural divides, demonstrate patriotism, develop leadership skills and make meaningful contributions towards the growth and transformation of Nigeria,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu urged the corps members to maximise the orientation course, describing its regimented activities as essential for instilling discipline, integrity, teamwork, perseverance and other values required for responsible citizenship and leadership.
He also encouraged them to participate actively in the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, sports and other camp activities to promote self-reliance, wealth creation and financial independence beyond the service year.
The governor further urged the corps members to uphold the ideals of the scheme, remain law-abiding and be worthy ambassadors of Nigeria.
Earlier, the NYSC Lagos State Coordinator, Mrs Christiana Salmwang, said that 3,281 corps members, comprising 1,379 males and 1,902 females, had successfully registered for the orientation course.
Salmwang said that the corps members were among the 8,403 deployed to Lagos and neighbouring states, while 5,122 were dislodged to orientation camps in Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Edo and Kwara States.
She said that the orientation course was designed to instil patriotism, promote peaceful coexistence and strengthen national unity for sustainable national development.
The coordinator urged the corps members to serve with dedication, integrity, creativity and resilience.
She also urged them to prioritise their safety throughout the service year, by avoiding unauthorised travel and night journeys.
Speaking on the sidelines, Ogunlende, who is also the Chairman, NYSC Governing Board in Lagos State, urged corps members to use the orientation period for mental and physical preparation.
The commissioner described the service year as a period of sacrifice and commitment.
He disclosed that the permanent NYSC Orientation Camp under construction in Agbowa, Ikorodu, with a capacity for 10,000 corps members, remained one of Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s legacy projects.
The commissioner, who appeared in a Nigerian Red Cross uniform, said he wore it to encourage young people to embrace volunteerism and community service.
The oath of allegiance was administered by Justice Ahmed Lawal, representing the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, who formally inducting the corps members into national service.
