The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Olakunle Nafiu, has revealed that the Scheme contributes services worth over N14 billion every year to Lagos State and its residents.

Nafiu explained that these services are delivered by the 44,000 corps members deployed across multiple sectors in the state.

He made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the Government House in Marina, Lagos. The NYSC’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, confirmed the details in a statement issued on Friday.

“The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has disclosed that NYSC provides services for the government and people of Lagos State worth over 14 billion naira annually.

“General Nafiu was quantifying, in minimum monetary value, the contributions of the over 44,000 Corps Members deployed to the length and breadth of the State in various capacities, including 333 medical doctors, 306 pharmacists, 274 nurses, and 7,188 teachers.

Nafiu said Lagos was the number one destination for corps members, noting that their parents were also comfortable with it, citing the relative security of the state,” the statement partly read.

The DG praised Governor Sanwo-Olu for critical renovation works at the temporary NYSC camp in Iyana-Ipaja and acknowledged the ongoing construction of a 10,000-capacity Permanent Orientation Camp. He said the Scheme anticipated the camp’s completion so that all corps members posted to Lagos could camp in one location, instead of the current practice of dislodging some to neighbouring states.

Nafiu also appealed for more support from the state government.

“The DG requested that the secretariat be provided with an ambulance and urged him to sustain the other areas of support for the Scheme, which he said gave much-needed operational support to the State formation.

“General Nafiu also congratulated the Governor on the remodelled National Theatre, noting that it was a national monument of repute,” the statement added.

Created in 1973 by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, the NYSC was designed to foster national unity in the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War. The one-year programme remains mandatory for Nigerian graduates, who undergo four phases — the three-week Orientation Course, deployment to a Place of Primary Assignment, Community Development Service, and finally, the Passing-Out Ceremony.