Chukwu Obinna 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government announces sweeping reforms to modernise the National Youth Service Corps through digital transformation, legislative amendments and a new funding model.
At a stakeholder consultation in Abuja, Presidential Adviser on Policy and Coordination Hadiza Bala Usman says the NYSC, despite its symbolic role in national unity, operates on outdated systems unsuited to Nigeria’s demographic and economic realities.
“Relevance requires reinvention,” Usman says, noting that centralised operations, weak funding structures and obsolete skills training undermine the scheme’s effectiveness.
The reform proposal includes amendments to the NYSC Act, a central digital service platform, gender-sensitive posting, and mandatory co-financing by state and local governments. It also introduces a three-tier governance model and regional innovation centres linked to a new ₦2 billion innovation fund.
Implementation is planned between 2026 and 2028, starting with legislative changes and digital pilots.
Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande says the overhaul will better equip corps members for employment and entrepreneurship, as Nigeria’s graduate population continues to surge.
NYSC Director-General Olakunle Nafiu highlights the scheme’s expansion from 2,000 corps members in 1973 to nearly 400,000 annually, warning that sustainability depends on reform.
NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa links digital skills training to global job markets.
“We can train our youth to fill the global talent gap,” he says, projecting significant economic gains from remote work.
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