The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will roll out a standardised nationwide policy in 2026 to ensure the proper inclusion and support of corps members living with disabilities throughout orientation and the service year.
The Director-General of the scheme, Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, announced this on Wednesday in Jos, Plateau State, at the opening of the 2026 NYSC Pre-Orientation Workshop. He said the initiative is aimed at promoting dignity, equal access, and full participation for all corps members across the country.
According to him, the new policy will provide clear guidelines for orientation camps and NYSC officials on how to engage with and support corps members with disabilities, thereby ensuring consistent treatment nationwide. He explained that the initiative is designed to strengthen inclusion, align the scheme with national and global best practices, and make the orientation experience more humane and responsive.
“This is not only about compliance but also about dignity, inclusion, and equal opportunity,” Brig.-Gen. Nafiu said. “It emphasises our commitment to leaving no one behind and positioning the NYSC as a humane, progressive, and nationally responsive institution.”
Delivering the keynote address, the Director-General described the pre-orientation workshop as a strategic planning platform rather than a routine meeting. He said the forum enables NYSC officials to review preparations for the orientation course, which he described as the most critical phase of the service year.
“The orientation course constitutes the bedrock of the entire NYSC service year. It is where service begins, character is forged, and citizenship is affirmed,” he said.
Brig.-Gen. Nafiu stressed the need for the continuous redesign of the orientation programme to reflect Nigeria’s current realities, international standards, and the evolving attitudes of young people. He noted that the theme of the workshop, “Revamping the NYSC Orientation Course Experience as a Foundation for Impactful Service by Corps Members,” aligns with the scheme’s objective of producing disciplined, patriotic, and socially responsible citizens.
He also commended camp officials and management for their professionalism, praising the smooth conduct of the 2025 Batch ‘C’ orientation exercise. According to him, the success of the exercise underscored the importance of teamwork and institutional discipline.
The Director-General said the 2026 workshop would introduce new features, including innovative training sessions, open-mic discussions on emerging challenges, improved camp management strategies, stronger collaboration with stakeholders, and practical, skill-based modules designed to prepare corps members for life after the orientation camp.
He urged participants to contribute actively to ensure that deliberations at the workshop produce “practical and actionable outcomes” capable of strengthening the NYSC orientation programme nationwide.
