NYSC: Youth Minister Wants Drilling During Orientation Course Reduced
The Minister of Youth, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has called for a review of the early morning drill routine at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camps across the country, saying physical drilling has little or no impact on employability or job market outcomes for Nigerian graduates.
The minister spoke on Monday at the 2025 NYSC Annual Management Conference held in Abuja, themed ‘Transforming the NYSC Scheme to meet the yearnings of the contemporary Nigerian graduates and society.
He urged the NYSC management to consider the physical and mental wellbeing of corps members by shifting camp drills to a later time—around 7:00 a.m.—instead of the current 4:00 a.m. schedule.
“The NYSC members should be allowed to start their drilling by 7:00 a.m. and not 4:00 a.m. Is drilling the purpose for us to do things? Of what purpose is drilling to us?” Olawande asked. “We are not saying drilling should not be there, but the real focus should be on unity, innovation, and productivity.”
The minister stressed the need to rethink the purpose of the orientation camp beyond military-style regimentation, arguing that rest and intellectual stimulation are more crucial in preparing young Nigerians for real-world challenges.
“When you are active, when you are doing research, when you are thinking differently and building yourself in those three weeks, how can you be lazy?” he said. “We’ve been drilling for years, yet we’re still not viable in the job market. So what’s the point of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results?”
Olawande added that consultations are already underway to effect this change, reiterating his commitment to youth welfare and reforming national institutions to be more responsive to contemporary realities.
“There’s no institution that keeps doing the same thing and expects a different result. That’s why we are thinking outside the box—or rather, outside the bus,” he said, in a passionate appeal for innovation within the NYSC structure.
He commended NYSC directors and staff for embracing reform and expressed optimism that the scheme could be repositioned to better serve the aspirations of Nigerian graduates.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
