…as 2,101 corps members take oath in Enugu
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has called on Nigerians to build a country that earns the patriotism of its young people and makes migration a choice rather than an escape from hardship.
Mbah spoke in Awgu during the swearing-in ceremony for National Youth Service Corps members deployed to the state for the 2026 Batch C orientation course.
He said Nigeria’s large youth population could become a demographic dividend only if the country provided the education, skills, jobs, enterprise opportunities and institutions needed to transform young people’s energy and talent into productivity and prosperity.
According to him, this objective also underscores the importance of the NYSC scheme beyond exposing corps members to life in other parts of the country.
“We often ask young Nigerians to be patriotic. But let us ask ourselves a more difficult question: How do we earn the patriotism of our young people if they feel excluded from their country’s promise?
“Patriotism must be cultivated by creating a country in which young people can see a future for themse
“We must provide quality education, create an enabling environment for enterprise, expand opportunities and make our institutions work.
“We must build a country where merit is rewarded, hard work has meaning and dreams do not have to be exported before they can become reality,” he said.
Mbah, however, reminded the corps members that patriotism also imposed responsibilities on citizens, particularly during difficult times.
“Patriotism also demands something from you. It demands that, even when the country is imperfect, you refuse to give up on its possibilities; that you criticise what is wrong without abandoning what can be made right; that you do not merely ask, ‘What can Nigeria give me?’ but also, ‘What can I give Nigeria?’
“Together, we can build a country where ‘japa’ is a choice, not an escape; where our young people can travel the world without feeling compelled to abandon home.
“If you are called upon to teach, teach as though Nigeria’s future were sitting before you—because it is. When you encounter difficulties, do not simply ask, ‘When will Nigeria change?’ Ask the more powerful question: ‘What can I do to change Nigeria?’ That is the question of citizenship,” he said.
The governor assured the corps members that his administration would prioritise their welfare, safety and comfort throughout their service year.
He described Enugu as a state with a rich cosmopolitan history, where people could attain their full potential irrespective of their places of origin.
“The Enugu State Government will continue to work with the NYSC authorities to provide a conducive, secure and supportive environment for your service. We will pay particular attention to your welfare, safety and the conditions under which you discharge your responsibilities across the state.
“Importantly, you are not strangers in Enugu. Our history offers remarkable testimony. When Enugu was elevated to municipal status in 1952, Mallam Umaru Altine, a Fulani man from Sokoto, became its first mayor.
“It tells us that in Enugu, where you come from need not determine how far you can go; that belonging is not always about birthplace and that citizenship is also about contribution,” Mbah said.
Earlier, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs Oluwakemi Awolola, said 2,101 prospective corps members had been registered for the orientation course.
Speaking on behalf of the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier-General Olakunle Nafiu, Awolola thanked the governor for improving the welfare of corps members and providing a conducive and secure environment for them.
“I am pleased to report that 2,101 prospective corps members, comprising 983 males and 1,118 females, have been successfully registered for the 2026 Batch C orientation course in Enugu State. Their level of cooperation, enthusiasm and willingness to participate in camp activities has been commenda
“We remain particularly grateful for your administration’s unwavering commitment to the welfare, security and general well-being of corps members.
“Of particular significance is the ongoing comprehensive intervention and overhaul of facilities at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Awgu, as well as the improved welfare support and allowances you have graciously promised serving corps members,” she said.
The state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Lloyd Ekweremadu, and the Chairman of Awgu Local Government Area, Uchenna Okolo, assured the corps members that the state and local governments would continue collaborating with the NYSC authorities to provide them with a rewarding service experience.
The new corps members were sworn in by the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Afojulu Ozoemena, who was represented by Justice Anthony Onovo.
The ceremony also featured a parade by the Batch C corps members.
Mbah later toured the NYSC Orientation Camp in Awgu, where he inspected completed and ongoing projects being undertaken by his administration to improve conditions at the facility.