The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, has announced a landmark reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), describing it as the first comprehensive restructuring of the scheme since its establishment 53 years ago.
Briefing State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, Usman said the far-reaching reform is designed to reposition the NYSC from a traditional service programme into a civilian-led, skills-oriented, productivity-driven and youth-empowering national institution that aligns with the administration’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy.
She explained that the reforms followed a comprehensive review of the country’s human capital development needs and the evolving demands of national development.
According to her, the government identified the need to strengthen the capacity of young graduates by equipping them with practical skills that will enhance productivity, improve employability and contribute meaningfully to economic growth.
“One of the key reasons for embarking on this reform is the need to reposition the NYSC as a civilian-led, skills-oriented, productivity-driven and youth-empowering national institution. We must build the human capital required to support Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy,” she said.
Usman noted that while the NYSC has served the country for over five decades, the current exercise represents the first holistic reform covering every critical component of the scheme.
She said the review addresses the entire deployment process, including registration procedures, posting modalities, security considerations in the deployment of corps members, orientation camp structure and the integration of skills development into national service.
A major feature of the reform is the restructuring of the orientation camp programme into three distinct phases.
Under the new model, the first two weeks will focus on civic responsibility, national values and leadership development to strengthen participants’ understanding of citizenship and public service.
The next two weeks will concentrate on career development, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, business planning and access to finance. Government also plans to introduce a structured Career Day programme to connect corps members directly with employers, businesses and public institutions.
The final two weeks will provide specialised, stream-based training tailored to each corps member’s academic background, career interests and skills profile.
To support this approach, the government has created 11 specialised NYSC streams, allowing corps members to choose career pathways that align with their qualifications and aspirations.
The streams include:
– Agriculture
– Medical Services
– Education
– Technology and Digital Economy
– Legal Services
– Public Service
– Infrastructure
– Green Economy
– Enterprise Development
– Creative Economy
– Paramilitary and Security
Usman explained that prospective corps members will select their preferred stream during registration, after which they will receive targeted training designed specifically for their chosen field.
She said the objective is to ensure that every participant leaves the NYSC with practical, market-relevant skills that improve their career prospects while contributing to national development priorities.
She commended President Tinubu for championing what she described as a bold and unprecedented transformation of the NYSC.
According to her, the President’s commitment to comprehensive reform reflects his determination to build a highly skilled youth population capable of driving economic growth and supporting Nigeria’s long-term development agenda.
“The President has courageously undertaken this holistic reform of the NYSC, something that has never been done in the 53 years of the scheme’s existence. The reform is guided by a clear vision of building the skills of Nigerian youths to enable them contribute effectively towards the administration’s goal of a $1 trillion economy,” Usman said.