Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier-General Olakunle Nafiu, said the scheme provides over N14 billion in annual services to the Lagos State government and its people.
The director-general said these services were provided by 44,000 corps members deployed to the state across various sectors.
Nafiu stated this during a courtesy visit to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Government House, Lagos.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, NYSC, Caroline Embu, yesterday.
“The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier-General Olakunle Nafiu, has disclosed that NYSC provides services for the government and people of Lagos State worth over N14 billion annually.
“General Nafiu was quantifying, in minimum monetary value, the contributions of the over 44,000 corps members deployed to the length and breadth of the state in various capacities, including 333 medical doctors, 306 pharmacists, 274 nurses and 7,188 teachers.”
Nafiu said Lagos was the number one destination for corps members, noting that their parents are also comfortable with it, citing the relative security of the state.
He commended the governor for carrying out critical renovation work at the temporary camp of the NYSC in Iyana-Ipaja, even as work at the 10,000-capacity Permanent Orientation Camp is ongoing.
He said the scheme looks forward to the completion of the camp so that corps members deployed to Lagos would camp in the same location, as opposed to the prevailing practice of lodging some at contiguous camps.
Nafiu also requested the provision of an ambulance for the NYSC Secretariat in the state, as well as sustained support for the scheme in other areas.
“He requested that the secretariat be provided with an ambulance and urged him to sustain the other areas of support, which he said will give the much-needed operational support to the state.
“General Nafiu also congratulated the governor on the remodelled National Theatre, noting that it was a national monument of repute,” the statement added.
NYSC was established by a former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, in 1973 to engender national integration, following the Civil War between 1967 and 1970.
The scheme has since become a mandatory requirement for graduates, who are expected to participate in four programmes, including a three-week Orientation Course, deployment to a Place of Primary Assignment, Community Development Service and the Passing-Out Ceremony over a period of one year.
