Permanent Secretary Calls for Increased Funding and Strategic Partnerships to Strengthen NYSC and CLTC
Oru Leonard
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Dr. Maryam Keshinro, has called for increased funding, upgraded infrastructure, and stronger strategic partnerships to further enhance the operations of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC).
Dr. Keshinro made the call during separate courtesy visits to the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, and the Director-General of CLTC, Ms. Rinsola Abiola, at their respective headquarters.
Describing the NYSC as a cornerstone of national unity and youth development, the Permanent Secretary reflected on her service year , noting that the Scheme has continued to shape generations of young Nigerians through discipline, exposure, and cultural integration. According to her, “The NYSC remains one of the most effective platforms for fostering national cohesion and exposing our youths to the richness of Nigeria’s diversity.”
She commended the leadership and staff of the NYSC for their dedication and resilience, while acknowledging challenges including increasing corps enrolment, inadequate staffing, and growing pressure on orientation camp facilities and accommodation. Dr. Keshinro called for stronger involvement of state and local governments in supporting corps members’ welfare and emphasized the need for competitive upgrades to camp infrastructure. She further stressed that “strategic collaboration with the private sector and international development partners will significantly enhance NYSC operations and youth empowerment outcomes.”
On the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), Dr. Keshinro highlighted the Centre’s strategic role in nation-building, ethical leadership, civic responsibility, and skills development among young Nigerians. She described the CLTC as a vital platform for grooming disciplined, value-driven, and skilled youths capable of contributing meaningfully to national development.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, described the Scheme as one of Nigeria’s most enduring nation-building institutions, established in 1973 to promote national unity, integration, and patriotic service. He noted that from an inaugural batch of 2,634 corps members, the NYSC now mobilizes up to 400,000 corps members annually, reaching virtually every Nigerian family and reaffirming its relevance more than five decades after its establishment.
Brigadier General Nafiu acknowledged challenges such as manpower shortages, security concerns, and funding constraints, adding that innovative initiatives are being explored to complement available resources. He expressed confidence that with enhanced funding and sustained collaboration, the NYSC would continue to remain a cornerstone of youth development, national cohesion, and selfless service.
Similarly, the Director-General of CLTC, Ms. Rinsola Abiola, expressed optimism about sustained collaboration with the Ministry, reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to effective partnership and alignment on ongoing and future programmes aimed at strengthening leadership development and regional administration.
(FMYD Press, December 18, 2025)
