Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged the 2026 Batch ‘C’ Stream II corps members deployed to the state to embrace discipline, national unity and entrepreneurship as they begin their one-year national service.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende, made the call on Friday at the formal opening and swearing-in ceremony of the three-week orientation course at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Iyana-Ipaja, Agege, Lagos.
Welcoming the prospective corps members to what he described as Nigeria’s Centre of Excellence, Sanwo-Olu congratulated them on completing their academic pursuits, noting that their arrival marked the beginning of an important chapter in their lives.
He observed that the corps members, drawn from different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds, were united by the common purpose of serving the fatherland, stressing that this reflects the essence of the NYSC scheme, which was established to foster unity, integration and peaceful coexistence.
The governor urged them to take the Oath of Allegiance seriously, describing it as “more than a ceremonial exercise” and “a solemn commitment to your country.”
“Let this experience deepen your understanding of Nigeria and reinforce the conviction that, despite our differences, we share a common destiny,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu said the drills, lectures, physical exercises and group activities lined up for the orientation course were designed to instil discipline, teamwork, leadership and resilience in the corps members.
He charged them to respect constituted authority, obey camp rules and avoid any behaviour that could endanger themselves or others.
“Let discipline become a personal commitment, not merely a camp requirement,” he said.
On their safety and welfare, the governor assured the corps members that the state government would continue to work closely with the NYSC management and security agencies. He advised them to report concerns through official channels instead of relying on unverified information on social media.
Stressing the importance of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, Sanwo-Olu said academic qualifications must be complemented by practical skills, creativity and innovation.
He urged the corps members to see themselves “not only as prospective employees but also as potential entrepreneurs, employers of labour and innovators.”
The governor also encouraged them to think early about the impact they hoped to make during their service year, whether in education, healthcare, agriculture, environmental sanitation or social welfare.
“You do not have to wait until you occupy prominent positions before making a difference,” he said.
He commended the Lagos State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Christiana Salmwang, her management team and camp officials for their commitment to the success of the orientation course. He also thanked the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, for administering the Oath of Allegiance.
Sanwo-Olu subsequently declared the orientation course open.
Accommodation challenge
In her address, Mrs. Salmwang disclosed that 11,224 prospective corps members were deployed to Lagos State, out of which 4,341 were meant for the Lagos camp.
She said that as of Thursday night, 2,738 prospective corps members, comprising 1,668 females and 1,070 males, had been registered at the camp, adding that registration was ongoing.
The coordinator, however, lamented that due to accommodation constraints at the temporary Orientation Camp, Iyana-Ipaja, some Lagos-deployed corps members had been dislodged to other states.
According to her, those registered in the affected states as of Thursday night were 1,054 in Ondo (405 males and 649 females); 1,037 in Osun (400 males and 637 females); 454 in Ogun (171 males and 283 females); 1,300 in Kwara (489 males and 811 females); 1,309 in Edo (497 males and 812 females); and 807 in Delta (317 males and 490 females).
She urged the corps members to take all activities seriously, obey camp rules, remain security-conscious and take full advantage of the SAED programme to acquire skills for self-reliance after service.
Mrs. Salmwang also thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for his support for the scheme in the state, particularly the ongoing construction of the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp at Agbowa, Ikorodu.
She described the project as “a significant investment in the future of the Scheme” that would provide a more suitable and conducive environment for the orientation of corps members.
The Chief Judge, who was represented by Hon. Justice Alebiosu, administered the Oath of Allegiance on the corps members.
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