Tinubu gives jobs, ₦50m awards, scholarships to 200 NYSC honourees

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday approved the immediate employment of 200 National Youth Service Corps honourees into the federal civil service.

He also awarded each of the honourees N250,000 in recognition of their outstanding service during the 2020–2023 service years.

Tinubu announced this at the President’s NYSC Honours Award Ceremony (2020-2023) at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

The President, who was represented by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, praised the awardees for their “discipline, commitment, selflessness, teamwork, patriotism, and integrity.”

He assured them that the “Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission will immediately begin their employment process.”

Tinubu also announced that 10 physically challenged former corps members, who sustained varying degrees of disability while serving, will also be offered federal employment.

“We will never forget their sacrifice,” he noted.

Beyond automatic employment and cash awards, each honouree was awarded a scholarship to *pursue a postgraduate degree at any Nigerian university.* 

“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,” Tinubu declared.

The President also reinforced the administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, saying, “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.”

Tinubu called on the honourees and Nigerian youths alike 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.

The top four male awardees include 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 best overall 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.

The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, thanked Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to the future of Nigerian youth.

“Your presence here is a testament to the deep-rooted love you have for our nation’s young people,” Olawande said, highlighting the President’s support for youth development initiatives.

The minister emphasised that the ceremony was an opportunity to recognise the hard work, creativity, and integrity demonstrated by ex-Corps members from across Nigeria.

“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 stated.

Olawande reaffirmed the FG’s dedication to empowering youth through programs focused on startup support, job creation, especially in the areas of technology and renewable energy and expanded opportunities for leadership.

He noted, “Many young people have been appointed as ministers and heads of agencies, ensuring youth voices are heard and respected at the highest levels.”

He also lauded the recent increase in NYSC members’ allowance from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000, saying it underscores that this adjustment was a response to current economic demands and not a political gesture.

“This decision reflects our recognition of the vital role youth play in nation-building,” Olawande said.

He also commended the NYSC’s founding members and past leadership. The minister praised successive generations of Corps members for their continued dedication, particularly in advancing national development in rural communities.

Olawande pledged his ministry’s ongoing support to strengthen the NYSC and ensure its positive impact endures.

He praised the collaboration of the National Assembly with the Ministry of Youth Development, noting, “For four decades, our youth have felt disconnected from government, but today, by bringing renewal to the youth, this administration is restoring faith and participation in national progress. We are grateful for your vision and commitment, and we believe in your leadership.”

The minister also expressed gratitude to the staff of the Ministry of Youth Development, the NYSC management, and partner agencies for their steadfast support, reaffirming the shared pursuit of a united, prosperous nation where youth are at the centre of growth and development.

The Director-General of National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, in his remarks, commended the contributions of Nigerian youth to the nation’s progress, declaring them “the future of our great nation and a vital force for our collective progress and preservation of our social, cultural, and national heritage.”

Nafiu praised recent government initiatives, expressing gratitude for President Tinubu’s approval of ₦77,000 allowance for corps members.

“This has gone a long way in boosting the morale and strength of corps members’ commitment,” he said.

The DG noted that beyond improved remuneration, the administration’s broader youth-focused agenda, such as the revitalised Nigerian Youth Investment Fund and the National Talent Export Programme, has “given corps members greater access to post-service funding and global tech opportunities.”

According to Nafiu, these reforms are not “mere policies but tools of landmark transformation that will undoubtedly stand the test of time.”

He also expressed optimism over the anticipated signing of the NYSC Trust Fund Bill, calling it a “landmark piece of legislation” poised to establish a sustainable funding framework for the scheme.

Highlighting the scope of national service, Nafiu disclosed the presentation of the President’s Honours Award to 200 former corps members who served between 2020 and 2023, selected through “a rigorous multilevel screening process that assessed their service record, community impact, civic engagement, and values.”

The DG also announced recognition for 10 recipients of the NYSC Hope Alive Programme ex-corps members 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.”

Nafiu led the gathering to remember four members who “paid the supreme price during the course of serving our nation,” recognising their sacrifice and commitment.

He stressed that the diverse roles corps members have played, ranging from supporting national elections and driving voter education to promoting ICT literacy in rural schools and advancing healthcare in remote areas.

“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,” Nafiu stated.

He added that the NYSC’s skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development programme has been restructured to focus on “technology-driven and market-relevant training,” with over 250,000 corps members trained 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 declared.

The NYSC, he assured Nigerians, “remains a living, working institution, actively shaping lives and building the nation from the ground up.”

Nafiu urged the awardees to embrace their new roles 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.

One of the awardees, Ezieme Uba, expressed gratitude, saying, “I feel joyful and I’m grateful for Mr. President for the honour of giving us this award.

“Nothing gives greater joy than seeing that you are gainfully employed. Given this opportunity, I’m very happy.

“I thank my parents for their motivation, my friends, even my ex-Corps member friends, and I pray that the Lord will bless them.”