Edith CHUKU
National Youth Service Corps NYSC, has emphasized the need for employers to exploit the potentials of corps members through provision of good working environment and improved welfare.
Corps employers were also charged to give corps members posted to them relevant tasks and effectively monitor their productivity.
This charge was given by the NYSC Director-General Brig.Gen. Olakunle O. Nafiu, at the 2026 NYSC/Corps Employers Workshop held in Port Harcourt, themed “Fine-tuning Stakeholders’ Collaboration to Enhance Corps Members’ Welfare and Workplace Experience.”
Speaking at the event on Tuesday, the DG noted that the workplace forms an important aspect of skills acquisition and service delivery by corps members to the nation.
Nafiu who was represented by the Deputy Director, Certification and Mobilisation, South-South Area Office II, Faustina Ilora, encouraged employers to offer good working environment, relevant job assignments and proper supervision/mentorship in order to improve their welfare and workplace experience.
His words: “As a corps employer you should intentionally create a conducive environment for corps members posted to you in order to enable them to have a productive and eventful service year.
“The workplace serves as the primary platform through which corps members acquire practical experience, develop professional competencies and contribute their skills to national development.
“The quality of the workplace experience has a direct bearing on corps members productivity, morale, personal development, and overall perception of the NYSC Scheme.”
Nafiu further charged the corps employers to provide corps members with meaningful job assignments relevant to their qualifications as well as provide appropriate mentorship, supervision, and opportunities for their professional growth.
On his part, The Rivers State NYSC Coordinator, Mr Moses Oleghe, appealed to employers to see the welfare of corps members as a priority.
Oleghe enjoined corps employers to regard their duties in providing corps members with a conducive environment and welfare provision as a sacred obligation.
The state NYSC bods expressed the hope that the workshop would expose the corps employers and the managers of the NYSC scheme to adopt new and strategic approaches that will improve the scheme holistically.
The guest lecturer, Dr. Sabastine Nwankwo, of the Department of Political Science, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education appealed to corps employers to be deliberate and intentional in harnessing the potentials of corps members through the creation of conducive environment for them to thrive.
