BY TAIBAT UMMI YAKUBU

The Katsina State Government has ordered the renovation and upgrading of its permanent National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp, with Governor Dikko Umaru Radda setting a 2027 target for the completion of major improvements.

The directive comes amid concerns over the condition of facilities at the camp, which the NYSC management says has affected the state's ability to attract corps members for national service.

Radda announced the decision on Friday during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Batch C Stream II orientation exercise in Katsina. He was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Ibrahim Ali-Duste.

The governor disclosed that he had already directed the Ministries of Works and Youth Development to make the necessary budgetary arrangements and commence plans for the comprehensive renovation of the facility.

He expressed optimism that substantial work would be completed before the arrival of the first batch of corps members in 2027, noting that the project would provide a more conducive environment for orientation activities and improve the overall experience of participants.

According to him, the proposed intervention will cover accommodation, training facilities, skills acquisition centres and other essential infrastructure needed to make the camp more suitable for corps members.

Radda also reaffirmed his administration's commitment to the welfare, safety and security of corps members deployed to the state, assuring them of government support throughout their service year.

He urged the participants to demonstrate patriotism, discipline, tolerance, integrity and dedication to duty, stressing that their conduct and contributions would play an important role in promoting national unity and development.

The governor described the NYSC scheme as a critical platform for bringing Nigerians from different ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds together, adding that the experience should strengthen peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding across the country.

He further encouraged the corps members to respect the customs and traditions of their host communities while actively participating in grassroots development initiatives.

Radda also urged them not to overlook the economic opportunities available through the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, which he said could help them acquire practical skills and establish sustainable businesses.

He specifically identified agriculture, agro-processing, livestock production, information technology, renewable energy, creative industries and small-scale manufacturing as sectors with significant opportunities for young entrepreneurs.

Earlier, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mr Evans Okwor, disclosed that 1,494 corps members had registered for the orientation exercise as of November 6.

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He said the figure comprised 853 males and 641 females drawn from different parts of the country and deployed to Katsina State for their national service.

Okwor explained that the three-week orientation programme, which began on November 4, would run until November 24, featuring activities designed to prepare participants for the challenges and responsibilities of their one-year national service.

The programme includes leadership training, military drills, socio-economic development lectures, cultural enlightenment, sporting competitions, security awareness, civic education and skills acquisition.

He said the activities were intended to equip corps members physically, mentally and psychologically while exposing them to the expectations of national service and their responsibilities to their host communities.

However, the NYSC coordinator used the occasion to renew calls for urgent government intervention at the permanent orientation camp, warning that inadequate facilities had affected the state's capacity to attract corps members over the years.

He appealed to the state government to take advantage of the available period before March 2027 to undertake a comprehensive renovation, particularly as the forthcoming elections were expected to disrupt the regular schedule of orientation exercises.

Okwor stressed that improving the camp's infrastructure would not only enhance the welfare of participants but also strengthen Katsina's capacity to accommodate corps members in subsequent deployment exercises.

He described corps members as valuable contributors to the state's development, particularly in critical areas such as healthcare, education, agricultural extension services and community development.

The coordinator also expressed appreciation to the state government, security agencies and other stakeholders for their continued support towards the successful implementation of the NYSC programme in Katsina.

The ceremony featured the administration of the oath of allegiance to the newly registered corps members by Dr Basira Umar, Chief Registrar of the Katsina State High Court of Justice, who represented the Chief Judge, Justice Musa Abubakar.

The oath-taking formally marked the corps members' commitment to the principles, responsibilities and values of the national service scheme.