Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has issued a stern warning to corps members across the country, urging them to abandon flamboyant lifestyles, live within their means, and cultivate the habit of saving money for a secure future. Speaking on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, while addressing corps members at the NYSC Kaduna State Temporary Orientation Camp in Kurmi‑Mashi, Kaduna, the DG did not mince words. He told the young graduates that the three weeks of orientation are not just about military drills and parades but about preparing for life after camp. He warned that many corps members waste their allowance on unnecessary displays of wealth, buying expensive phones, designer clothes, and spraying money at parties, only to end the service year with nothing to show for it.
General Nafiu’s visit to the Kaduna camp was part of his nationwide tour of orientation camps to monitor the ongoing 2026 Batch A stream two exercise. Upon arrival, he was received by the NYSC Kaduna State Coordinator, Mrs Efeke Murna Dadaza, who presented the camp situation report. She informed the Director General that 2,896 corps members, comprising 2,198 posted to Kaduna State and 698 dislodged from the Federal Capital Territory, were registered for the orientation course. She added that all the corps members had adjusted to the regimented camp environment and were actively participating in all camp activities, including morning drills, parade rehearsals, and skills acquisition sessions.
The DG, however, was not content with just the report. He walked through the camp, inspecting the kitchen, the medical centre, the parade ground, and the SAED training hall. At each stop, he engaged directly with corps members, asking about their welfare, their challenges, and their plans after camp. It was during one such interaction that he delivered his most pointed advice. “Do not live a fake life,” he told a group of corps members seated under a canopy. “You see your friends posting pictures with expensive cars and clothes, and you feel pressure to do the same. That is the road to poverty. Live within your means. Save your allowance. Start small. That is the secret of successful people.”
The Director General also emphasised the importance of the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, which he described as the most valuable part of the orientation camp. He told the corps members that the white collar jobs they were hoping for are no longer available, and that the future belongs to those who can create value. “Acquire a new skill through SAED. It will make you self‑employed and, at the same time, enable you to create jobs for others,” he said. He disclosed that the scheme has partnered with many stakeholders, including banks, development agencies, and private sector companies, that are ready to assist corps members with low‑interest loans, business grants, and starter packs. He urged them to take the post‑camp SAED training seriously, noting that time is precious and should not be wasted.
General Nafiu’s message resonated with many corps members, some of whom confessed that they had already spent part of their allowance on unnecessary items. A female corps member from Ebonyi State told the DG that she had planned to buy a new phone with her first allowance, but after listening to him, she would instead invest in a sewing machine through the SAED programme. The DG applauded her decision, promising that the NYSC would connect her to a business mentor. He also announced that the scheme would soon launch a digital savings platform specifically for corps members, allowing them to lock away a portion of their allowance until the end of the service year.
The DG’s warning against flamboyant lifestyles is not new, but it has taken on added urgency given the economic challenges facing the country. With inflation at record highs and unemployment rates among young graduates exceeding forty percent, many corps members finish their service year without any savings or marketable skills. The NYSC has been under pressure to make the orientation camp more than just a ceremonial exercise, and the SAED programme has emerged as the centrepiece of that reform. Since its introduction, the programme has trained over two million corps members in various trades, including baking, tailoring, poultry farming, solar installation, and digital marketing. Thousands of former corps members have gone on to start their own businesses, some of which have grown into small and medium enterprises.
The Kaduna State Coordinator, Mrs Efeke Murna Dadaza, told the DG that the camp had recorded a high level of interest in the SAED programme, with over ninety percent of corps members enrolled in at least one skill track. She noted that the most popular tracks were digital marketing, soap making, and poultry farming. She also reported that the camp had partnered with local business owners to provide hands‑on training and mentorship. The DG expressed satisfaction with the report and urged the coordinator to ensure that no corps member leaves the camp without a clear business plan.
General Nafiu also addressed the issue of security, which has become a major concern for corps members posted to states like Kaduna, where banditry and kidnapping remain threats. He assured the corps members that the NYSC was working with security agencies to ensure their safety throughout the service year. He advised them to avoid travelling at night, to always inform their local government inspectors of their movements, and to avoid involving themselves in local politics. He also reminded them that the NYSC has a standing policy that corps members should not accept postings to high‑risk areas without adequate security assessments.
Before departing the camp, the DG inspected the kitchen and the medical centre. In the kitchen, he sampled the food being prepared for the corps members and commended the caterers for maintaining hygiene standards. In the medical centre, he met with a corps member who had been admitted with malaria and wished her a speedy recovery. He also directed the camp director to ensure that all medical facilities were adequately stocked and that emergency response plans were in place.
As the sun set over the Kurmi‑Mashi camp, General Nafiu addressed the entire parade of corps members one final time. “You are the future of this country,” he said. “Do not waste this opportunity. Learn a skill. Save your money. Build a business. And when you leave this camp, go out there and be the change that Nigeria needs.” The corps members responded with a thunderous applause, and as the DG’s convoy drove out of the camp, many were already discussing their business plans for the months ahead. The message had been delivered. Whether it would be heeded is a question that only time, and the choices of two thousand young Nigerians, will answer.
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