Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has remarked that the National Youth Service Corps, or NYSC, is a call to patriotic and selfless service that provides an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to national progress.
The governor asked corps members sent to the state to remain apolitical and professional in carrying out any electoral tasks ahead of the state’s governorship election on August 15.
Speaking on Monday at the swearing-in and official opening ceremony of the orientation course for the 2026 Batch B Stream I service year at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Ede, he stated that corps members had a responsibility to uphold the integrity of the electoral process if called upon to serve as ad hoc personnel.
The governor, represented by Prof Moruf Adeleke, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, described national service as a patriotic and selfless responsibility, encouraging corps members to seize the opportunity to contribute to national development while gaining experiences that will shape their future.
“As Corps Members who may be called upon to participate in the electoral process, I urge you to conduct your duties in an apolitical, unbiased, and professional manner. “Do not be influenced by any form of inducement or undue pressure,” he said.
He also stated that the credibility of elections was heavily reliant on the integrity of individuals participating in their conduct, and he asked corps members to closely adhere to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s rules as well as the NYSC’s core values.
Adeleke also advised the attendees to uphold the National Pledge and the Oath of Allegiance administered during the event, and to be law-abiding, responsible, and respectful of constituted authority.
The governor promised the corps members that the Osun State Government would continue to support the NYSC scheme and work with appropriate stakeholders to ensure their well-being and security throughout the service year.
He encouraged them to embrace Nigeria’s diversity by forging connections across ethnic, religious, and cultural boundaries, as well as to seize the chances offered in Osun State rather than seek relocation quickly.
“Osun State is quiet, welcoming, and endowed with a rich cultural legacy. Rather than seeking relocation at the first chance, I encourage you to enjoy the beauty, calm, and hospitality that Osun State has to offer,” Governor Adeleke stated.
Earlier, Ekeng Ita Kubiangha, the Osun State NYSC Coordinator, greeted the corps members deployed to the state, including those relocated from Lagos, and described the orientation course as the start of a new chapter in their life and service to the nation.
Kubiangha stated that the NYSC scheme remained an important tool for promoting national unity, patriotism, and socioeconomic development, and urged corps members to undertake the service year with diligence, humility, and devotion.