200 Outstanding NYSC Corps Members to Receive Jobs, Cash, and Scholarships from Tinubu

On Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu gave the Federation’s Head of Civil Service instructions to provide employment letters to 200 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) President’s Honors Award recipients.

He announced that the fortunate personnel will get a cash prize of N250,000 in addition to automatic employment into the civil service and postgraduate scholarships to Nigerian universities.

Ten former Corps members with physical disabilities who were injured during their service were also automatically hired by the federal government.

At the combined 2020–2023 NYSC President’s Honors Award ceremony in Abuja, the president made the announcement via Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labor and Employment.

He explained the gesture as an expression of the government’s dedication to national service and young development.

He commended the recipients for their selflessness, discipline, patriotism, and excellent service, emphasizing that their sacrifices were essential to the nation’s long-term success and social cohesiveness.

“The Federal Civil Service Commission and the Head of the Federation’s Civil Service have been instructed to start the hiring process right away,” he stated.

“All honorees will receive N250,000 as a token of gratitude for their service to the country. A scholarship to pursue postgraduate studies up to the PhD level at any university in the nation would also be given to each prize laureate, Tinubu declared.

According to the president, the administration has created a number of youth-focused programs in the areas of education, technology, business, and skill development in order to tap into the potential of Nigerian young.

He said, “We are steadfast in our determination to prioritize youth in our economic and national development agenda.”

He also cautioned against those who would want to destabilize the country and advised young Nigerians to maintain their optimism. “Be confident in Nigeria. “Our greatest strength is our unity,” he stated.

Nunaya Polycarp Nunaya (Adamawa, served in Kwara); Okpogbo Alvin Chinedu (Imo, served in Cross River); Dr. Ugwa Obinna Mark (Abia, served in Cross River); Rabiu Quadri Mayokun (Osun, served in Rivers); Akase Pati Ence Ngu­wasen (Benue, served in Gombe); and Igwe Anne Chikaodi (Enugu, served in Sokoto) were among the six top-performing corps members in attendance.

President Tinubu’s commitment to raising Nigerian youths was praised by Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande, who pointed to recent hikes in corps members’ allowances from N33,000 to N77,000.

“This is a clear response to economic realities and a show of appreciation for the contributions of our young people, not a political gesture,” Olawande stated.

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He commended the NYSC for turning forth generations of dedicated young Nigerians who have used civic participation, healthcare, and education to improve underprivileged neighborhoods.

Along with acknowledging the Ministry of Youth Development’s sustained legislative support, Olawande promised more reforms in areas including digital skills, renewable energy, and youth entrepreneurship.

Brigadier General Olakunle Akinyemi Nafiu, the NYSC’s director-general, referred to Nigerian youths as “the vital force for our collective progress and preser­vation of national unity.”

He emphasized that 200 honorees were chosen after a stringent screening procedure that evaluated their leadership, dedication to community development, and service impact. Under the NYSC Hope Alive program, ten more honorees were recognized for their continued service in spite of injuries they received while performing their duties.

In addition to honoring four corps members who died while serving, Nafiu declared, “These young Nigerians are not just awardees, they are heroes of our Republic.”

According to the DG, the NYSC’s Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) deployed nearly 6,000 medical personnel, including 2,319 doctors, in 2025 alone, providing free medical care, health education, and disease prevention to over four million Nigerians.

He mentioned that NYSC trains more than 250,000 corps members a year through its redesigned entrepreneurship and skills acquisition programs, which now take into account the demands of the market and the digital world.

He declared, “We are not just producing graduates; we are producing leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers.”

Nafiu said that she hoped the NYSC Trust Fund Bill, which is currently pending, would soon be brought into law and provide long-term financial assistance for youth reintegration and post-service enterprise.

“You may have left the khaki behind, but you now wear the confidence of a great nation,” he remarked, speaking directly to the honorees. This prize is a responsibility as well as a reward. You are innovators of hope and messengers of solidarity.

Ezieme Francis Uba, one of the recipients, conveyed his appreciation for the honor. Nothing makes you happier than to see your hard work paid off. For this honor, I am grateful to the president, my family, and my friends. It serves as inspiration to accomplish more.

The NYSC continues to serve as a platform for youth empowerment and a symbol of national cohesion as it marks more than 50 years since its founding in 1973.

A renewed attempt to uplift its legacy and reposition Nigeria’s young for national transformation is evident in President Tinubu’s most recent intervention.