Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim, the 18th Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), assumed office on May 10, 2019, and has since implemented transformational reforms aimed at enhancing the scheme. His leadership focused on a five-point agenda, addressing issues such as the integrity of the NYSC mobilization process, improving welfare, and introducing entrepreneurial and agricultural opportunities for corps members.
A key achievement was sanitizing the NYSC mobilization process, especially curbing fraudulent mobilizations from foreign institutions. Ibrahim introduced stringent screening for foreign-trained graduates, especially those from the West African sub-region. This move exposed candidates with fake credentials, ensuring that only qualified individuals were allowed to serve, thus protecting the public and private sectors from underqualified personnel.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ibrahim prioritized corps members’ and staff members’ safety, ensuring they received vaccines and contributed to the nation’s fight against the virus. Corps members produced and distributed essential supplies like sanitizers and face masks, further highlighting their role in national service.
Ibrahim revitalized key NYSC initiatives, including the establishment of NYSC National Troupe and the production of the first NYSC film, A Call to Service, which featured corps members alongside Nollywood stars. This introduced young talents to opportunities in the film industry.
Under his leadership, NYSC farms in states like Kebbi, Oyo, and Bauchi were revitalized, and new ones were developed, like the rice farm in Ebonyi, in partnership with the National Agricultural Land Development Authority. These initiatives aimed to engage corps members in entrepreneurship and agricultural ventures.
The DG also reinvigorated other NYSC ventures such as water factories, bakeries, and garment industries, generating significant revenue for the government. Over N1 billion has been paid into government coffers from these ventures. The commissioning of NYSC Radio and Television stations in 2022 further elevated the scheme’s presence in the media, helping to amplify its activities.
The proposal for the NYSC Trust Fund, which has already been passed by the National Assembly, is another key achievement under Ibrahim’s leadership. The fund aims to address infrastructure deficits in the scheme and provide financial support to corps members for skill acquisition initiatives, with a broader goal of reducing youth unemployment and poverty in Nigeria.
Ibrahim’s legacy, including the establishment of the NYSC Museum of Dynamic History and various books on NYSC’s contributions to national development, has left a lasting impact on the scheme. His tenure has been defined by reforms that have strengthened the integrity, productivity, and visibility of the NYSC, positioning it as a key player in national development.
