The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has directed corps members in the 2026 Batch B Stream Two to practice financial discipline, acquire practical skills, and pursue entrepreneurship as a path to economic independence. The directive came from the NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, during his address to corps members at orientation camps in Abia and Imo States on August 13, 2026.
DG's Charge on Financial Discipline and Skills Acquisition
General Nafiu told the corps members to resist impulsive spending habits, keep their expectations in check, and build a consistent savings culture throughout their service year. He highlighted the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme as a ready avenue for corps members to develop capabilities that would complement their academic qualifications.
Beyond financial advice, the Director General pushed corps members to think beyond employment and consider creating jobs for others. "He urged them to strive towards entrepreneurship and thereby create jobs for others, as this would make them financially independent," the NYSC said in an official statement posted to its X account.
Safety and Networking Advice
General Nafiu also encouraged the corps members to use the camp environment to forge meaningful friendships and build business networks that could outlast the service year. On the matter of safety, he issued a firm warning against unauthorised travel, instructing corps members to seek NYSC approval before any journey became necessary and to stay off the roads at night entirely.
The Director General's advice comes as part of the NYSC's broader effort to ensure corps members are not only productive during their service year but also equipped for future economic independence.
Registration Figures and State Support
The Abia State NYSC Coordinator, Mr Yunusa Tanimu, briefed the Director General on the situation at the Abia camp, reporting that a total of 1,731 corps members had been registered, made up of 750 males and 981 females. Tanimu said the corps members had settled well into the structured camp routine since their arrival, with all activities running smoothly and full participation from both corps members and officials.
He also praised the Abia State Government for its continued support of NYSC operations in the state. The commendation underscores the collaborative relationship between the NYSC and state governments in ensuring the success of the orientation exercise.
In a related development, the NYSC DG had earlier sent a farewell message to the 2025 Batch A Stream II corps members, commending them for their contributions to national development as they concluded their service year. In the message posted on the scheme's official X page, General Nafiu praised their dedication and commitment during the mandatory one-year programme, noting that their efforts at their various Places of Primary Assignment had positively impacted communities and reflected the objectives of the scheme.
