Brig. Gen. Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu has officially assumed duty as the 23rd Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, taking over from Brigadier General YD Ahmed.
The handing-over ceremony, which took place at the NYSC Headquarters in Abuja, marked a new chapter for the scheme as Nafiu pledged to leverage his extensive military and peacekeeping experience to advance the goals of the NYSC.
This was stated in a release shared on the agency’s X and Facebook pages on Thursday.
“Nafiu, a seasoned artillery officer and member of the 47 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, previously served as Chief of Staff to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General OO Oluyede, and his predecessor, the late Lt. General TA Lagbaja, CFR.
“He holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and a Master’s in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,” the statement read.
In his inaugural address, Nafiu highlighted his commitment to the scheme’s mandate of fostering national unity and youth development.
“I am honoured to lead this noble institution at a time when the role of our youth in national integration and development has never been more critical,” he stated.
“My administration will focus on enhancing the welfare, security, and professional development of corps members across the country.”
Drawing from his vast experience in peacekeeping missions with the United Nations in Liberia, Sudan, and South Sudan, Nafiu expressed his readiness to strengthen the scheme’s management and operational efficiency.
“My diverse exposure to multicultural environments and organisational policy formulation will guide my leadership approach,” he added.
“General Nafiu’s impressive military career includes serving as a United Nations Military Observer in Sudan, where he played a key role in monitoring the South Sudan Independence Referendum in 2011, and as a Staff Officer in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
“His leadership journey also saw him command artillery regiments multiple times, including in the North-East theatre of operations,” the statement further noted.
According to the release, he is expected to bring a blend of strategic foresight and practical leadership to the NYSC, leveraging his background in critical and systems thinking to implement policies that enhance the scheme’s impact on national development.
As the new Director-General settles into his role, the NYSC community and stakeholders are optimistic that his tenure will usher in a new era of progress and transformation for the scheme, the release concluded.
