NYSC pledges tech-driven mobilisation reform

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to reforming the corps mobilisation process through improved technology and stronger stakeholder collaboration, aimed at enhancing credibility, efficiency, and national development.

Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), said this on Monday in Abuja at the opening of the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Pre-Mobilisation Workshop.

The event is themed “Strengthening the NYSC Mobilisation Process through Improved Technology and Collaboration with Stakeholders.”

Nafiu said the scheme stood on the threshold of transformation, stating that “with technology as a tool and collaboration as a compass, a secure, smart, and service-driven mobilisation system will be achieved.”

“As society evolves, the NYSC must also align its strategies with present realities.

“By leveraging technology, forging stronger partnerships, investing in infrastructure, and deploying relevant skills, we can enhance efficiency.

“This will improve the experience of prospective and serving corps members, and sustain the scheme’s vital role in national development,” he said.

He emphasised that the mobilisation process is more than an administrative procedure, describing it as a gateway for Nigerian graduates into a national service scheme that has made significant contributions to both public and private sectors.

However, Nafiu acknowledged that in spite of previous improvements, the mobilisation system still faced challenges, including mismatched data from institutions, uploads of unqualified or part-time graduates, technical glitches, and attempts at record falsification.

“These issues must be addressed with courage, creativity, and collaboration to preserve the credibility and relevance of the NYSC Scheme,” he said.

Nafiu lauded past leadership for the introduction of the Online Mobilisation Portal and the NYSC Integrated Data Management System (NIDMAS) in 2014, which reduced inefficiencies linked to manual processes.

He said that the next phase of reform would focus on automating the Cross-Institutional Verification System (ACIVS), linking directly with key academic and regulatory bodies like JAMB, NUC, NBTE, and NCCE for real-time data verification.

The D-G also announced plans to adopt facial and biometric matching technologies to eliminate multiple mobilisation attempts and impersonation.

“Technology alone cannot solve our problems. Every stakeholder must see themselves as guardians of national development,” he added.

To strengthen collaboration, Nafiu said the NYSC was considering regular Joint Review Forums with corps-producing institutions and key regulators to streamline data, align policies, and resolve emerging issues.

He also stressed the need for continuous capacity-building for institutional and NYSC mobilisation officers, especially in areas such as data verification, error resolution, emergency response, and cybersecurity.

“Technology is expensive, but the cost of being left behind is far greater,” Nafiu said, urging partners to modernise their systems for seamless collaboration.

Also speaking, the NYSC Director of Corps Mobilisation, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, described the workshop as a critical platform for the NYSC and its stakeholders to assess and enhance mobilisation strategies.

“While ICT has driven significant efficiency, it also presents unique challenges that demand proactive solutions,” Abubakar said.

He acknowledged the progress made in recent years through innovation and collaboration, but warned that the fraudulent upload of unqualified graduates remained a major concern.

“We must remain vigilant and responsive,” he said.

As the scheme prepares for another batch of mobilisation, Abubakar urged all stakeholders to uphold integrity, embrace innovation, and act in the national interest.