The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced plans to implement wide-ranging reforms aimed at enhancing its relevance and boosting its contribution to national development.

The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, disclosed this on Monday at the opening of the 2026 NYSC Annual Management Conference held in Jos, Plateau State.

Nafiu said the scheme has evolved beyond symbolic nation-building and must now focus on delivering measurable outcomes that address Nigeria’s current challenges. According to him, the central issue is no longer the relevance of the NYSC, but how its vast pool of youthful talent can be deliberately and effectively deployed for sustainable national development.

He noted that recent internal assessments revealed the need for the scheme to adapt to changing population trends, security concerns and rapid technological advancements.

“Our review of the past year shows clearly that we must embrace change and continuous improvement. Management is committed to reforms that will strengthen our systems, improve service delivery and align NYSC operations with present realities,” he said.

The DG urged participants at the conference to critically examine existing operational frameworks, share practical experiences and propose innovative solutions that would enhance the scheme’s effectiveness nationwide.

Describing the NYSC as a unique reservoir of human capital, Nafiu said the scheme’s strength lies in its large and consistent annual intake of young Nigerians from diverse academic and professional backgrounds.

He also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, for their sustained support for the scheme.

Governor Mutfwang, who declared the conference open, commended the NYSC for its enduring contributions to national unity and development. Represented by his deputy, Mrs Josephine Piyo, the governor announced the renovation of the NYSC orientation camp in Mangu Local Government Area and the allocation of additional land to the camp for agricultural activities.

He expressed optimism that, with the ongoing improvements, the 2026 Batch ‘B’ orientation exercise would hold at the camp.

The conference, themed “NYSC as a catalyst for national development: Tackling present challenges and charting sustainable solutions,” is expected to generate practical strategies to reposition the scheme for greater impact across the country.