President Bola Tinubu will recognize 210 former participants of Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program in an awards ceremony at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday. The event, announced by NYSC Director of Media Emeka Mgbemena, highlights individuals who demonstrated exceptional commitment during their mandatory national service between 2020 and 2023.
The honorees include 200 ex-corps members selected for outstanding performance across the NYSC’s four core pillars: orientation training, primary assignments, community development projects, and completion of service. An additional 10 awardees, recognized under the NYSC Hope Alive Initiative, sustained permanent disabilities while serving in communities nationwide. Mgbemena emphasized the awards reflect the program’s dual focus on excellence and sacrifice.
The NYSC, established in 1973, requires Nigerian university graduates under 30 to complete a year of national service, often in regions outside their home states. The initiative aims to foster unity and development, though participants occasionally face risks in areas with security challenges or limited infrastructure. Tuesday’s event marks the first such presidential recognition since Tinubu took office in 2023, underscoring his administration’s emphasis on youth engagement.
Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande and NYSC Director-General Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu will join senior officials to host the ceremony, which aligns with broader efforts to celebrate national service as a cornerstone of civic responsibility. While the NYSC has faced criticism over safety concerns and logistical hurdles, the awards spotlight participants whose contributions bolstered education, healthcare, and infrastructure in underserved areas during their postings.
For the 10 individuals honored under the Hope Alive Initiative—a program supporting corps members injured during service—the recognition carries particular significance. Their inclusion highlights the physical risks some face while fulfilling mandatory duties, a reality that has spurred calls for enhanced protections for participants. The ceremony, set for 11 a.m. at the Presidential Villa’s Banquet Hall, will draw families, officials, and civil society representatives, reinforcing the role of youth in national development.
