The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, in Jigawa State on Friday marked its 53rd anniversary with a fitness walk and public lecture in Dutse, as stakeholders called for reforms to strengthen the scheme.
Speaking during the event at the NYSC Secretariat, the State Coordinator, Muhammad Baba, said the scheme had over the years promoted national unity and provided manpower in critical sectors.
“Over the last 53 years, the ‘corpers’ phenomenon has become deeply woven into the fabric of Nigerian society,” he said.
Baba noted that corps members had contributed significantly to education, health, agriculture and community development across the 27 local government areas of the state.
He also highlighted the NYSC’s role in Nigeria’s electoral process through the deployment of ad hoc staff.
Addressing calls for the programme to be scrapped or made optional, Baba said challenges such as tribalism and youth unemployment required sustained national engagement.
“As the scheme looks beyond its 53-year milestone, the focus is on continuous reform,” he said.
The coordinator further praised the Jigawa State Government for supporting the scheme with a modern orientation camp in Panisau, hostels for corps members and logistics support.
Some corps members also shared their experiences during the event.
A corps member, Aisha Musa, said serving outside her state exposed her to new cultures and opportunities.
Another corps member, Yusuf Ibrahim, said the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, SAED, programme had equipped him with skills for self-reliance.
“Through SAED, I now have skills that can help me start my own business instead of waiting for a government job,” he said.
