By Our Correspondent
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Ogun State has secured a promising partnership with the UNESCO Institute for African Culture and International Understanding (IACIU), aimed at enhancing capacity building and cultural engagement for Corps Members.
This follows a strategic advocacy visit by the NYSC Ogun State Coordinator, Mrs. Olayinka Diana Nasamu, to the Institute’s headquarters in Abeokuta, during which the Director, Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, proposed several areas of collaboration between both institutions.
Key components of the proposed partnership include the inclusion of Corps Members in IACIU’s programmes and projects, integration into the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, capacity-building workshops, collaboration through Community Development Service (CDS) groups, community sensitization initiatives, research and policy advocacy, and the promotion of cultural heritage.
In a further boost to youth leadership development, Professor Okebukola revealed that the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute—comprising former and serving Presidents from various African countries—is ready to offer free leadership training to Corps Members.
Mrs. Nasamu welcomed the proposal with enthusiasm, noting the alignment between the Institute’s initiatives and NYSC’s Orientation Course activities. She extended an invitation to Professor Okebukola to participate in selected camp events, offering a closer view of how the Scheme operates and where meaningful collaboration can be implemented.
This breakthrough reflects the Coordinator’s vision and deep passion for repositioning the Scheme in Ogun State. Her drive to foster stronger stakeholder relationships has opened new pathways for Corps Members to access world-class opportunities in leadership, culture, and entrepreneurship.
With this development, NYSC Ogun State is set to broaden its impact, reaffirming its commitment to the holistic development of Nigerian youths in alignment with national and global goals.
