The Minister of State for Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has urged the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to reconsider the early start time for physical drills during the three-week orientation programme, okay.ng reports.
The minister recommended that the routine should commence by 7:00 am, rather than the current practice of beginning at 4:00 am.
Olawande made this appeal while addressing participants at the 2025 NYSC Annual Management Conference held in Abuja. The conference was themed: “Transforming the NYSC Scheme to Meet the Yearnings of the Contemporary Nigerian Graduates and Society.”
The minister expressed concern that the early morning drills may not align with the overall goal of the scheme, which he emphasized is to promote unity and empower Nigerian youths.
“The NYSC members should be allowed to start their drilling by 7:00 am and not 4:00 am,” Olawande said. “Is drilling the purpose for us to do things? Of what purpose is drilling to us? We are not saying drilling should not be there. Drilling should be there. But we talk about unity in diversity. We are bringing them together in unity, and that is the major purpose.”
He stressed the importance of rest and mental preparedness, noting that overworked and sleep-deprived corps members are unlikely to perform optimally or demonstrate innovation.
“When you are active, when you are doing research, when you are doing things differently, when you are making up in life and all that within three weeks, how can you be lazy? You can’t be lazy,” he added.
Olawande also challenged the NYSC leadership to evolve the scheme to better reflect current economic realities and graduate expectations, especially in employability and skill development.
“Since when we’ve been drilling, are we viable in the job market? We can’t continue to be putting people out every year, 480,000 [every year] and no improvement,” he said.
The minister’s remarks have sparked a fresh discussion around the relevance and structure of the NYSC orientation programme, particularly how it prepares graduates for life after service.
