The Minister of Youth, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has called on the management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to adjust its orientation programme, advocating for a later start to daily activities in a bid to improve the welfare of corps members.
Speaking at the 2025 annual management conference in Abuja, themed ‘Transforming the NYSC Scheme to Meet the Yearnings of Contemporary Nigerian Graduates and Society’, Olawande suggested that camp drills begin at 7:00 am instead of the usual 4:00 am.
He argued that this adjustment would allow corps members to rest properly, making them more active and engaged during their time at camp.
Olawande, who has already begun consultations on this change, stressed that the goal is not to eliminate drills but to ensure that corps members are well-rested and mentally prepared.
He emphasised that such a shift would align with the overarching goal of unity in diversity, while also encouraging greater innovation and productivity among the youth.
He further criticised the current system, pointing out that despite the annual mobilisation of around 480,000 corps members, there has been little improvement in their transition to the job market.
“We can’t keep doing the same thing every year and expect different results,” Olawande remarked, stressing the need for a new approach to empower young Nigerians for a better future.
