President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate employment of 200 exceptional National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members into the federal civil service, alongside a ₦250,000 cash reward for each honoree, in recognition of their outstanding performance during the 2020–2023 service years.

Speaking on Tuesday at the combined President’s NYSC Honours Award Ceremony in Abuja, President Tinubu—represented by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha—commended the awardees for their discipline, commitment, patriotism, and integrity.

In a further show of empathy and inclusiveness, the President also ordered the employment of 10 physically challenged ex-corps members who sustained injuries or disabilities during their service year, assuring them that their sacrifices would not be forgotten.

“All awardees, including those living with disabilities, will receive scholarships to pursue postgraduate degrees in any Nigerian university,” Tinubu announced. He added that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission would immediately commence the employment process.

Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, President Tinubu emphasized that young Nigerians remain a cornerstone of the country’s development efforts.

“To foreground youth in our national development agenda, we have launched a range of initiatives across education, skill development, technology, and innovation,” he said, urging the honorees and Nigerian youths at large to maintain their faith in the country and resist attempts to destabilize the nation.

The ceremony recognized six top-performing corps members across the male and female categories:

Male Honorees:

• Nunaya Polycarp Nunaya (Batch 20B – KW/20B/0001), from Adamawa State, served in Kwara State.
• Okpogbo Alvin Chinedu (Batch 21A), from Imo State, served in Cross River State.
• Dr. Ugwa Obinna Mark (Batch 23B), from Abia State, served in Cross River State.
• Rabiu Quadri Mayokun (Batch 23C), from Osun State, served in Rivers State.

Female Honorees:

• Akase Pati Ence Nguwasen (Batch 21A), from Benue State, served in Gombe State.
• Igwe Anne Chikaodi (Batch 23C), from Enugu State, served in Sokoto State.

Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, lauded the President’s unwavering support for Nigerian youths, describing Tinubu’s presence—represented at the event—as a testament to his love for the nation’s future leaders.

“This ceremony is a celebration of hard work, creativity, and integrity. These honorees exemplify the very best of Nigerian youth,” Olawande said.

He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to youth-focused policies, including support for startups, technology, renewable energy, and expanded leadership opportunities. He also praised the recent increase in corps members’ monthly allowance from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000, stating it was a practical response to economic realities rather than a political gesture.

NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Akinyemi Nafiu, described Nigerian youths as “a vital force for national progress and custodians of our cultural and national heritage.”

He thanked President Tinubu for the improved allowance and other youth-centric reforms, including the revitalized Nigerian Youth Investment Fund and the National Talent Export Programme. These, he said, have expanded post-service opportunities for corps members and opened access to global tech markets.

General Nafiu expressed hope for the speedy signing of the NYSC Trust Fund Bill into law, calling it “a transformative step toward sustainable funding for the scheme.”

He also paid tribute to four corps members who lost their lives in service, describing them as heroes whose legacies would endure.

“In 2025 alone, the NYSC deployed 6,340 core medical personnel—including 2,319 doctors—to provide free healthcare in remote areas,” he disclosed. “Through our Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers, over 4 million Nigerians received free medical services, including malaria testing, health education, and disease prevention campaigns.”

Highlighting NYSC’s skills acquisition reforms, Nafiu revealed that over 250,000 corps members now undergo technology-driven, market-relevant training annually.

He urged the awardees to uphold the values of unity and service. “You may have hung your khaki, but now you wear something greater—the confidence of a grateful nation. Be ambassadors of unity and innovators of hope,” he charged.