The Director, Media of the National Youth Service Corps (National Youth Service Corps), Chief Julian Mgbemena, has charged corps members to see their one-year national service as a critical responsibility for nation-building, urging them to approach the scheme with discipline, focus, and patriotism.
Mgbemena gave the charge on Wednesday during an official visit to the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he addressed the 2026 Batch B Stream I corps members deployed to the state.
He told the corps members that the quality of their service year would largely determine their personal growth and contribution to national development, stressing that they must remain intentional in their choices and relationships throughout the service period.
“The measure of growth and success of any individual is largely dependent on the quality of friends he or she keeps,” he said.
He urged the corps members to build meaningful and enduring friendships across ethnic, tribal, and religious lines, noting that such relationships were essential for national unity and cohesion.
According to him, “I charge you to build quality and enduring friendship across ethnic and tribal lines, as well as religion. You should be disciplined, patriotic, security conscious, hardworking, and determined to succeed in life.”
Mgbemena further cautioned the corps members against unnecessary movements during their service year, advising them to remain at their places of primary assignment and take their duties seriously.
He also encouraged them to take advantage of the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme of the NYSC, describing it as a vital platform for self-reliance and future empowerment.
“You should not engage in frivolous travels but remain at your places of primary assignment. You should acquire relevant skills packaged by the NYSC SAED,” he added.
In his remarks, the Rivers State NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Moses Oleghe, commended the corps members for their discipline and conduct since their arrival at the camp, expressing optimism that they represent a brighter future for the country.
He noted that sustaining the current level of discipline and responsibility would be key to achieving the objectives of the scheme.
“This is if they sustain the discipline and high sense of responsibility exhibited since their arrival to camp,” Oleghe said.
He also appreciated the NYSC media director for choosing Rivers State for the visit, assuring that the state coordination would remain committed to fulfilling the mandate of the scheme through diligent and effective service delivery.
Oleghe reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the NYSC leadership continues to be proud of the performance of the state secretariat in executing its responsibilities.
