President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has announced a comprehensive reward package for 210 former members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), including automatic federal employment, scholarships up to PhD level within Nigeria, and cash awards of ₦250,000 each.
The recipients, drawn from the 2020 to 2023 service years, include 200 ex-Corps Members who distinguished themselves through exceptional contributions across NYSC’s four cardinal programmes, and 10 others who sustained life-altering injuries during their service.
Speaking during the 2025 edition of the President’s NYSC Honours Award Ceremony, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Tinubu — represented by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mrs. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha — directed the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission to fast-track the immediate employment of the awardees into the federal civil service.
President Tinubu paid glowing tribute to General Yakubu Gowon, founder of the NYSC in 1973, and lauded the Scheme’s contributions to national unity and development, especially in the areas of education, healthcare, agriculture, and rural development.He also praised the NYSC’s Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, which he described as a vital platform for self-reliance and job creation among Nigerian youth.
“The NYSC remains a beacon of hope and unity for our nation. We will continue to support it as part of our commitment to youth development,” the President stated.
Top Awardees Recognised
The President’s Honours Award spotlighted several outstanding ex-Corps Members:
Overall Best Four: Nunaya Polycarp Nunaya (Adamawa, served in Kwara)Okpogbo Alvin Chinedu (Imo, served in Cross River)Dr. Ugwa Obinna Mark (Abia, served in Cross River)Rabiu Quadri Mayokun (Osun, served in Rivers)
Best Female Awardees: Akase Patience Nguwasen (Benue, served in Gombe)Igwe Anne Chikaobi (Enugu, served in Sokoto)
Praise from Government Officials
Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, applauded the NYSC for its decades-long role in fostering national integration, rural development, and free medical outreach for underprivileged Nigerians.
NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, described the ceremony as a “national tribute to excellence, sacrifice, and hope.”
He praised President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which has increased support for the Scheme, including raising Corps Members’ monthly allowance from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000.
General Nafiu further outlined recent NYSC initiatives:Over 6,000 Corps medical personnel, including 2,319 doctors, were deployed under the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD), reaching about 4 million Nigerians.
An average of 250,000 Corps Members annually now receive hands-on training in entrepreneurship via the revamped SAED programme.
Corps Members continue to support national development efforts, including elections and SDG advocacy.
The DG also emphasized the importance of the pending NYSC Trust Fund Bill, which aims to provide a sustainable funding framework to upgrade infrastructure, improve welfare, and support post-service reintegration.
He paid heartfelt tribute to Corps Members who lost their lives in service, promising that their “names, deeds, and legacies will not be forgotten.”
The event drew top government functionaries, former NYSC chiefs, and a broad cross-section of Nigerians, underscoring the national significance of the NYSC in Nigeria’s 52-year development journey.
Reporting by Parisa Samuel