President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday approved the immediate employment of 200 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) honourees into the federal civil service.
The President also announced a cash award of ₦250,000 and scholarships for each of the awardees, in recognition of their outstanding service during the 2020–2023 service years.
The President, represented by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, made the announcement on Tuesday at the 2020–2023 NYSC Honours Award Ceremony held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
Applauding the awardees for their “discipline, commitment, selflessness, teamwork, patriotism, and integrity,” Tinubu said the “Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission will immediately begin their employment process.”
He revealed that 10 ex-Corps members who sustained disabilities during their service would also be offered positions in the civil service. “We will never forget their sacrifice,” he added.
Each awardee will additionally receive ₦250,000 and a fully funded postgraduate scholarship at a Nigerian university of their choice, “In appreciation of their service to the nation, all the awardees will receive N250,000. Finally, each award recipient will be granted a scholarship to pursue postgraduate programs up to a degree in any university in the country,” the President stated.
Reinforcing his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, Tinubu said: “In appreciation of these critical roles played by youths in national development, and to put them in the foreground of our economy, the government developed several youth-related programs, covering education, skills development, technology, and information sustainability.”
He called on Nigerian youths to “continue to have faith in Nigeria,” urging them not to yield to those “seeking to destabilise the nation.”
The ceremony recognised the best overall performers in the male and female categories. Among the top four male awardees were Polycarp Nunaya (20B – KW/20B/0001) from Adamawa State, who served in Kwara State; Okpogbo Chinedu (21A) from Imo State, who served in Cross River State; Dr. Ugwa Mark (23B) from Abia State, who served in Cross River State; and Rabiu Mayokun (23C) from Osun State, who served in Rivers State.
In the female category, the awardees were Akase Nguwasen (21A) from Benue State, who served in Gombe State, and Igwe Anne Chikaodi (23C) from Enugu State, who served in Sokoto State.
In his address, Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande thanked the President for backing youth-focused initiatives. “Your presence here is a testament to the deep-rooted love you have for our nation’s young people,” he said.
He described the ceremony as an opportunity to recognise “the hard work, creativity, and integrity demonstrated by ex-Corps members from across Nigeria.”
According to him, “Each outstanding honoree here today exemplifies the very best of what our youth can achieve. Their positive character and commitment have made them true role models, inspiring others nationwide.”
He noted that youth inclusion was increasing at the highest levels of government and commended the recent Corps members’ allowance increase from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000, describing it as “a response to current economic demands and not a political gesture.”
Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, used the occasion to commend the awardees and express gratitude for the President’s youth-focused policies.
He described Nigerian youths as “the future of our great nation and a vital force for our collective progress and preservation of our social, cultural, and national heritage.”
He called for the speedy signing of the NYSC Trust Fund Bill, which he said would provide a sustainable funding framework for the scheme.
Nafiu further disclosed that the 200 honourees were selected through “a rigorous multilevel screening process that assessed their service record, community impact, civic engagement, and values.”
The DG also paid tribute to 10 recipients of the NYSC Hope Alive Programme who “sustained life-altering injuries during their service but remain undeterred in their dedication to the nation. They are not just honorees, they are heroes of our Republic.”
He remembered four Corps members who died in active service, saying they “paid the supreme price during the course of serving our nation.”
Nafiu highlighted the NYSC’s roles in voter education, ICT literacy, healthcare outreach, and other initiatives. “In 2025 alone, we engaged 6,340 core medical personnel, including 2,319 doctors, to expand access to free healthcare in remote areas. Through our Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers, over 4 million Nigerians benefited from free health services, malaria testing, health education, and disease prevention campaigns,” he said.
He explained that the NYSC’s entrepreneurship programme has been overhauled to focus on “technology-driven and market-relevant training,” with more than 250,000 Corps members benefiting annually.
“As Director General, I remain deeply committed to protecting the integrity of the NYSC. The scheme is a symbol of national trust, and we are taking decisive steps to safeguard every aspect of our operations, from mobilisation to deployment and service delivery,” he said.
Nafiu urged the awardees to embrace their new role as ambassadors of unity. “You may no longer wear khaki, but you now wear something even more enduring: the confidence of a great nation. This award should signify yet another chapter in your resolve and commitment to selfless dedication to serving your country, as you remain ambassadors of unity and innovators of hope.
“May this event remind us all that service still matters, that unity still defines our strength, and more importantly, that the Nigerian youth are the future of our great nation. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he concluded.
