Published by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs and Head of the United Nations Youth Office, Felipe Paullier, has commended Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps, describing it as a vital platform for youth development, civic engagement, and national integration during an official visit that included participation in a rural health outreach programme in the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking at the flag-off of the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers in Kabusa community, Abuja, Paullier said discussions during his visit focused on strengthening youth participation in governance, peacebuilding, and human rights advocacy, while reinforcing partnerships between the United Nations and Nigerian youth institutions.
He noted that interactions with Nigerians across different backgrounds revealed a strong sense of pride in the National Youth Service Corps experience, describing the programme as a shared national institution that continues to shape young people’s understanding of unity and service.
Paullier’s remarks were delivered during a medical outreach event organised under the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers, a programme designed to provide free healthcare services to underserved communities across Nigeria through corps medical personnel and partner organisations.
According to the NYSC leadership, the initiative has reached more than five million beneficiaries since its inception in 2014, providing consultations, treatments, and preventive healthcare services to rural populations who often face limited access to medical facilities.
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, said the scheme aims to reach approximately 45,000 additional beneficiaries this year, supported by newly deployed mobile medical clinics donated by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, which are expected to enhance outreach capacity across rural areas.
He stated that the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers aligns with global development goals, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on health and poverty reduction, by improving access to essential services and reducing the financial burden on vulnerable households.
Nafiu also highlighted plans to expand the programme to include minor surgical procedures in selected rural communities, noting that such interventions would further strengthen preventive healthcare and early treatment for conditions that are often neglected due to cost and distance barriers.
The NYSC Director-General expressed appreciation to development partners, donor agencies, and medical corps members who contribute to the programme, emphasising that their work has been essential to sustaining healthcare delivery in remote areas.
Traditional leaders in Kabusa community welcomed the initiative, describing it as a significant intervention that brought medical services directly to residents who rarely have access to consistent healthcare facilities.
Community representatives also noted that the outreach included consultations, laboratory testing, eye care services, health education sessions, and referrals for advanced treatment where necessary, offering a comprehensive package of care over a two-day period.
Officials from the NYSC Community Development Service and Special Projects department explained that the outreach was structured to combine treatment with health education, ensuring that residents were informed about disease prevention and healthy living practices.
The event also featured the inauguration and inspection of mobile clinics by the UN official and NYSC leadership, symbolising a partnership aimed at improving healthcare delivery mechanisms for rural populations, also now.
Partner organisations supporting the initiative included private sector and philanthropic groups that contributed resources, equipment, and technical expertise to expand the reach of the outreach programme.
Observers at the event noted that the collaboration between international organisations, government agencies, and private partners reflects a growing emphasis on multi-sectoral approaches to public health challenges in developing regions.
The visit by the UN Youth Affairs chief is seen as part of broader engagement efforts aimed at strengthening youth-focused development programmes and reinforcing the role of young people in achieving sustainable development objectives.
Officials indicated that continued collaboration between the United Nations and Nigerian institutions could enhance youth empowerment initiatives, particularly in areas such as health, education, and civic participation.
The NYSC programme, established in 1973, remains one of Nigeria’s most significant national service frameworks, requiring graduates to participate in a year of service across different regions of the country to promote unity and national development.
Over the years, it has evolved to include community development projects such as healthcare outreach, education support, and infrastructure improvement, often led by corps members deployed to rural and underserved communities.
As discussions continue on strengthening youth engagement globally, the Abuja event highlighted the importance of partnerships that combine international expertise with local institutional capacity to address pressing social needs.
Paullier’s visit concluded with engagements with stakeholders from youth organisations, government agencies, and development partners, focusing on strategies to enhance collaboration and expand opportunities for young people across Nigeria.
The programme ended with renewed commitments to deepen cooperation between the United Nations Youth Office and Nigerian institutions in advancing health, education, and youth empowerment initiatives across the country.
Officials at the event further emphasised the partnership between the United Nations system and Nigeria’s youth institutions reflects a broader global push to strengthen local capacity for achieving sustainable development outcomes, particularly in countries with large youth populations and significant rural development gaps. They noted that programmes such as the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers serve as practical examples of how volunteer-driven national service schemes can be leveraged to address critical public health challenges while simultaneously promoting civic responsibility among young graduates.
Development experts present also observed that Nigeria’s demographic structure, with a majority of its population under the age of thirty, places increasing importance on youth-focused policies and institutional frameworks that can channel energy, skills, and innovation into nation-building efforts. In this context, the NYSC was highlighted as a longstanding institutional mechanism that not only fosters national unity but also provides a structured environment for skills development and community engagement.
The engagement concluded with renewed calls for sustained investment in healthcare infrastructure, digital health tools, and expanded training for medical corps members to ensure outreach programmes remain effective, scalable, and responsive to the needs of rural populations across the country. going forward
Officials reiterated that sustained collaboration, transparency, and continuous capacity building remain essential to ensuring long-term impact of youth development and rural healthcare initiatives across Nigeria in line with national priorities and international development commitments. going forward
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