The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has urged corps members to respect the customs and traditions of their host communities as they embark on their service year across the country.

Addressing members of the 2026 Batch A Stream One at the NYSC orientation camps in Ogun and Oyo states, Nafiu reminded the new intakes that their conduct on and off duty would shape public perception of the scheme and of Nigerian youths in general.

He charged them to be punctual, disciplined and resourceful at their places of primary assignment, stressing that employers and community leaders should see corps members as partners in development rather than liabilities.

Nafiu also advised the corps members to manage their allowances prudently, warning that poor financial decisions during the service year could have long-term consequences. He encouraged them to explore legitimate opportunities for self-development and entrepreneurship while remaining focused on their core responsibilities.

“When you are posted to your place of primary assignment, respect their rules, be punctual, be resourceful and learn the culture of the organisation you are posted to,” he said, adding that sensitivity to local norms would help prevent conflicts and foster mutual trust.

In Ogun State, the NYSC Coordinator, Olayinka Nasamu, briefed the Director-General on camp activities and reported that 3,341 corps members had been registered, including 975 initially deployed to Lagos. She said the new intakes had adjusted well to the regimented camp environment and were complying with camp regulations.

Similarly, the Oyo State Coordinator, Kayode Ola-Peters, said 3,068 corps members had been registered in the state. He described their participation in drills, lectures and skills acquisition programmes as impressive, noting that many had already shown interest in contributing to education, health, agriculture and other critical sectors.

The ongoing orientation course, holding simultaneously in all 37 NYSC camps nationwide, is designed to prepare graduates for the demands of national service through physical training, civic education and community engagement programmes.

Nafiu reiterated that the NYSC remains a vital platform for promoting national unity, youth empowerment and grassroots development, and called on corps members to see their posting not as a burden but as an opportunity to leave a positive legacy in their host communities.