President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has honoured 210 outstanding former members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with automatic employment, local scholarships up to doctorate level, and cash awards of ₦250,000 each for their exceptional service to the nation.
The awards were presented at the 2025 President’s NYSC Honours Award Ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The beneficiaries include 200 ex-Corps members who distinguished themselves during their service years (2020–2023) and 10 others who sustained life-changing injuries in the line of duty.
President Tinubu, represented at the event by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, directed the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission to immediately facilitate their employment into the Federal Civil Service.
Among the overall best awardees are:
- Nunaya Polycarp Nunaya from Adamawa State (served in Kwara),
- Okpogbo Alvin Chinedu from Imo State (served in Cross River),
- Dr Ugwa Obinna Mark from Abia State (served in Cross River),
- Rabiu Quadri Mayokun from Osun State (served in Rivers).
Top female honorees include:
- Akase Patience Nguwasen from Benue State (served in Gombe),
- Igwe Anne Chikaobi from Enugu State (served in Sokoto).
President Tinubu praised the vision of General Yakubu Gowon, who founded the NYSC in 1973, and commended corps members for their invaluable contributions over the past 52 years in sectors such as agriculture, education, and healthcare.
According to Hobnob News, Tinubu lauded the NYSC’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme for equipping corps members with tools for self-reliance and job creation. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to youth development, highlighting various initiatives designed to empower young Nigerians.
Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, also saluted the dedication of corps members in promoting national unity, rural growth, education, and free healthcare, particularly through the NYSC’s Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD).
Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, described the Honours Award as a national tribute to excellence and sacrifice, affirming that it remains a platform to recognise young Nigerians who embody the spirit of patriotism and service. He applauded President Tinubu’s leadership, citing the recent increase in corps members’ monthly allowances from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000 under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Nafiu highlighted new opportunities available to corps members, including access to the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund, the National Talent Export Programme, and the anticipated NYSC Trust Fund, which he said will revamp infrastructure, improve welfare, and ensure smooth reintegration post-service.
He also paid tribute to corps members who lost their lives in service, vowing that their “names, deeds, and legacies will not be forgotten.”
The 2025 Honours Award ceremony was graced by top government officials, former NYSC chiefs, and a cross-section of stakeholders who reaffirmed the enduring relevance of the NYSC in nation-building.
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