Governor of Enugu state, Dr Peter Mbah, has tasked youths on patriotism ,urging them to contribute to nation building , stressing that Nigeria must earn the patriotism of its young people by creating opportunities for them to thrive at home.
Mbah who made the call on Friday, October 2, 2026, while declaring open the 2026 Batch ‘C’ Stream I Orientation Course , held at the the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Awgu, , in which 2,101 corps members, comprising 983 male and 1,118 female, were sworn -in for their national service advised the youths against “jappa”(migration), noting that jappa should be a choice ,not an escape from hardship.
Addressing the Corps members, Governor Mbah announced that payment of the reviewed monthly allowance for the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC members serving in Enugu State will commence in October, 2026.
The Batch C corps members
The Governor, who personally attended the ceremony, said the reviewed allowance was part of the state government’s commitment to the welfare of corps members serving across the state.
He assured the corps members that the state government would continue to work with the NYSC authorities to provide a conducive, secure and supportive environment for their service, with particular attention to their welfare, safety and the conditions under which they discharge their responsibilities.
Mbah stated that Nigeria’s large youth population could become an extraordinary demographic dividend only if the country created the education, skills, jobs, enterprise opportunities and institutions required to transform the energy and talents of young Nigerians into productivity and prosperity.
“We often ask young Nigerians to be patriotic. But let us ask ourselves a more difficult question: How do we earn the patriotism of our young people if they feel excluded from their country’s promise?” he asked.
He said patriotism must be cultivated by creating a country where young people could see a future for themselves.
“We must provide quality education, create an enabling environment for enterprise, expand opportunities and make our institutions work. We must build a country where merit is rewarded, hard work has meaning and dreams do not have to be exported before they can become reality.
“Patriotism also demands something from you. It demands that, even when the country is imperfect, you refuse to give up on its possibilities; that you criticise what is wrong without abandoning what can be made right; that you do not merely ask, ‘What can Nigeria give me?’ but also, ‘What can I give Nigeria?’” he said.
The Governor urged the corps members to use their service year to discover Nigeria beyond ethnic, religious and geographical boundaries, advising them to learn the languages, cultures, food and traditions of their host communities.
According to him, the NYSC scheme was established in the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War to rebuild national bonds, promote unity and create a shared sense of destiny among Nigerians.
He said Enugu had a special place in the history of the scheme, noting that the state hosted the first orientation camp of the NYSC. He also highlighted the cosmopolitan history of Enugu.
The Governor urged the corps members to embrace their deployment and experience their host communities rather than merely pass through them, adding that national integration was achieved when Nigerians from different ethnic and religious backgrounds encountered one another, lived together, worked together and discovered their shared humanity.
Mbah also used the occasion to highlight development initiatives in Enugu State, saying the government was deliberately changing the face of the state through investments in education, technology, healthcare, transportation, security, tourism and enterprise.
The Governor emphasised that the most important transformation was not necessarily the roads, buildings and other physical infrastructure, but the creation of possibilities for young people.
“We are trying to create an Enugu in which a young person does not have to look beyond Nigeria before imagining a future of consequence,” he said.
Mbah told the corps members that they were not coming to Enugu simply to observe the transformation but to participate in it.
He said some would teach in the state’s Smart Green Schools, others would work in Type-2 primary healthcare centres, while some would serve in government institutions and businesses.
He urged them never to underestimate the significance of their contributions, noting that a teacher could change the trajectory of a child’s life, a health worker could save a life and a corps member serving in a rural community could bring knowledge and dignity where they were most needed.
“Your service may last one year, but its impact may last a lifetime,” he said.
The Governor further charged the corps members to see their service year as an opportunity to develop skills, build relationships and deepen their understanding of Nigeria. He said he wanted them to leave Enugu with more than their certificates, including memories, friendships, skills and experiences that would broaden their understanding of the country.
“We want you to leave with the memory that Enugu has served you well. That you came as a stranger and left with friends,” he said.
Mbah reiterated his call for a Nigeria where young people could travel abroad without feeling compelled to abandon hope in their country. “Together we can build a country where ‘Japa’ is a choice, not an escape; where our young people can travel the world without feeling compelled to abandon home,” he said.
He added that when confronted with difficulties, young Nigerians should not only ask when Nigeria would change but also what they could do to change the country. “That is the question of citizenship,” he said.
Earlier, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs Oluwakemi Awolola, disclosed that 2,101 prospective corps members, comprising 983 male and 1,118 female, had been successfully registered for the 2026 Batch ‘C’ Stream I Orientation Course in Enugu.
Awolola, who spoke on behalf of the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier-General Olakunle Nafiu, thanked the Governor for personally identifying with the corps members and for the state government’s sustained support for the NYSC scheme.
She commended Governor Mbah administration’s intervention in the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Awgu, describing the ongoing comprehensive overhaul of camp facilities and improved welfare support and allowances for corps members as significant interventions.
She said the corps members had conducted themselves in an orderly and disciplined manner since their arrival, commending their cooperation, enthusiasm and willingness to participate in camp activities.
Awolola urged them to take the orientation course seriously, participate actively in all camp activities, obey camp rules and regulations, respect constituted authority and adhere to the NYSC bye-laws.
The Coordinator said the orientation programme was designed to expose the corps members to national policies, security awareness, health matters, leadership and the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.She explained that the course was also intended to acquaint them with the culture, traditions and socio-economic realities of their host communities while preparing them mentally, emotionally, physically and socially for the service year.
In his address, the Chairman of Awgu Local Government Area, Hon. Uchenna Okolo, welcomed the corps members to the council and urged them to obey the laws, rules and customs of their host communities.
Okolo said the essence of the NYSC scheme was to promote national unity. He called on the corps members to contribute meaningfully to nation-building.
He commended Governor Mbah for his development initiatives across various sectors, including education, healthcare and security.
NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs Oluwakemi Awolola
According to him, the state had installed CCTV cameras in different areas as part of efforts to strengthening security, while investments in Smart Schools and primary healthcare facilities were improving the quality of services available to residents.
He assured the corps members that Awgu was safe and conducive for their service year.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development,Lloyd Ike Ekweremadu Jr., also assured the corps members of the commitment of the state government to working with the NYSC authorities to provide them with a rewarding service experience.
The 2,101 corps members took the oath of allegiance, administered by Hon. Justice Anthony Onovo, on behalf of the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Hon. Justice Afojulu Raymond Ozoemena.
The event was attended by members of the Enugu State Executive Council, NYSC officials, traditional rulers, security personnel, heads of boards and agencies, community leaders among others.
