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By Sola Rotimi
The Kwara State Government has announced a N50,000 cash grant for every member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in the state under the 2026 orientation course.
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq announced the grant while declaring the three-week orientation course open at the temporary NYSC orientation camp at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.
The Governor said the financial support was in appreciation of the corps members’ service to the nation and to help cushion the economic challenges they may face during their service year.
He also urged the corps members to see themselves as partners in the development of Kwara State rather than as temporary visitors.
“Our nation needs your energy, ideas, and idealism. As corps members, you are not merely visitors to Kwara State—you are partners in our development.”
Abdulrazaq congratulated the young graduates on completing their academic studies and responding to the call to national service, assuring them of the State Government’s commitment to their welfare and security.
He described the NYSC as one of Nigeria’s important instruments for promoting national unity, leadership and selfless service.
“The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) remains one of Nigeria’s greatest instruments for unity, leadership, and service.”
The Governor urged the corps members to approach their service year with discipline, obey camp rules and lawful instructions, and take the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme seriously.
He encouraged them to use the orientation period to acquire practical skills, develop business ideas and prepare themselves for self-reliance.
Abdulrazaq also charged the corps members to promote national unity by building relationships with colleagues from different parts of the country and identifying ways to contribute positively to their host communities.
He said the State Government would continue to work with the NYSC and security agencies to ensure the safety, security and welfare of corps members throughout their service year.
The Governor further urged employers to mentor corps members and provide opportunities for their professional development, while pledging government support for social and cultural activities during the orientation course.In his address, the NYSC Kwara State Coordinator, Mr Musa Kafarda, appreciated the State Government for its continued support for the scheme, particularly the relocation of the corps members from the permanent orientation camp in Yikpata to ensure their safety.
Mr Kafarda urged the corps members to take advantage of the diversity of the country’s ethnic and religious backgrounds to learn from one another and build lasting bonds with fellow corps members from different parts of Nigeria.
He, however, appealed to the State Government to commence payment of a state allowance to corps members to complement their federal allowance and to renovate facilities within the temporary orientation camp.
A total of two thousand, seven hundred and forty corps members, comprising one thousand, two hundred and sixty-three males and one thousand, four hundred and seventy-seven females, took the oath of allegiance during the ceremony.
The oath was administered by the Kwara State Chief Judge, Justice Abiodun Adabara, who was represented by Magistrate Ahmed Ndakene.
