July 23, 2025—The Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has expressed strong interest in a new partnership aimed at empowering young Nigerians through practical training in furniture making and woodwork.

In his words, “Today, I had the pleasure of visiting the Furniture Business Unit (AFP) of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, following an invitation from the General Manager, Mr. Oliver Cohnen.”

He was warmly welcomed by the Assistant General Manager, Mr. Brommer; the Finance Manager, Mr. Jamiu; and the Liaison Officer, Mr. Kaita. During a detailed tour of the AFP facility, the minister observed a wide range of high-quality and innovative furniture pieces.

He noted that most of the materials used in production were locally sourced, combined with selected imported inputs.

“What I saw at AFP is a clear demonstration of what is possible when we invest in local production and value chains. It also served as an invitation to collaborate,” he stated.

According to the minister, discussions were held on how to equip corps members and other Nigerian youth with industry-relevant skills through hands-on training.

This move is expected to boost employment, promote entrepreneurship, and strengthen Nigeria’s manufacturing sector. It also highlights the role of private sector partnerships in youth development and job creation across the country.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has officially announced the commencement of the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course across all NYSC orientation camps in Nigeria. This was confirmed in a statement signed by the NYSC management on Monday.

According to the statement, the orientation course will run based on the following schedule:

i. Commencement/Registration: Wednesday, 30th July, 2025
ii. Cut-off date for Registration: Midnight Friday, 1st August, 2025
iii. Swearing-In Ceremony: Friday, 1st August, 2025
iv. Closing Ceremony: Tuesday, 19th August, 2025

“All prospective Corps Members (PCM) slated for the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course are advised to proceed to their respective camps as stated on their Call-up Letters,” the statement read.

Foreign-trained graduates are reminded to report to the camp with their International Passports and original copies of all uploaded documents for verification.

The NYSC also advised all PCMs to carefully read through their Call-up Letters and take note of every instruction. According to the statement, “Prospective Corps Members are urged to carefully read through the call up letter and internalize all the relevant information therein.”

To reduce travel risks, PCMs have been strongly advised to use only government-approved motor parks and transportation companies when heading to their assigned orientation camps.

“Prospective Corps Members are advised to patronize vehicles at government approved motor parks and transportation companies only,” the NYSC management emphasized, “This is to reduce the risks of falling prey to criminals and other security hazards.”

The NYSC also reiterated its warning against night travel. “The NYSC advises prospective Corps Members to avoid night journeys. Once it is 6.00pm, they are enjoined to break their journeys and pass the night at any military or police barracks, NYSC Secretariats or NYSC Corps Lodges nearest to their disembarkment location,” the agency warned.

Corps Members who are graduates of Monotechnics and Polytechnics are expected to present their National Diploma certificates in addition to other documents for registration at orientation camps across the country.

On the issue of fake documentation, the NYSC said, “On no account should prospective Corps Members present fake documents for registration. Anyone who does so will be apprehended, handed over to the law enforcement and duly prosecuted.”

The Corps also addressed the procedure in the event of a missing Call-up Letter. “In the event of any loss of Call-up Letter, the prospective Corps Member who collected the Call-up letter from his/her institution is advised to obtain Police Report and Sworn Affidavit and thereafter report to the institution of graduation for further necessary action,” it stated.

“Those who initially printed their Call-up Letters on-line can re-print the Call-up Letter in the case of loss,” the management added.

Failure to report for service as directed is also punishable by law. “Any person who fails to report for service in the Service Corps as directed in the Call-up Letter and/or refuses to make himself available for service in the Service Corps shall be prosecuted in line with the provisions of Section 13 sub-section 1(a) and (b) of the NYSC Act, Cap. N84, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,” the NYSC clarified.

The management further stated, “Any person who is not eligible to participate in the Service Corps or has been duly issued with a Certificate of National Service or Certificate of Exemption but so participates or attempts to so participate shall be prosecuted in line with Section 13 sub-section 2(a) and (b) of the NYSC Act, Cap. N84, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

In an inclusive gesture, the NYSC stated that all married, pregnant and nursing mothers posted to states other than their husbands’ states of residence may report to camps in their states of domicile. However, these individuals must present the following documents:

i. Evidence of marriage
ii. Acceptable identification of their husbands (data page of international passport, driver’s license, national identity card etc)
iii. Evidence of husband’s place of domicile

The NYSC also listed out the documents required for registration:

i. Original Call-up Letter or Call-up Letter printed on-line.
ii. Original Statement of Result or Certificate endorsed by authorized officer with authentic signature.
iii. School Identity Card.
iv. Foreign graduates must present International Passport and original copies of all uploaded documents.
v. Medical Doctors, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Nurses, Medical Laboratory Scientists, Radiographers, Optometrists and graduates of Health Record & Information Management are to produce evidence of Registration with their Professional Bodies.
vi. In addition, each Prospective Corps Member MUST present Certificate of Fitness from a Government or Military Hospital affixed with Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Stamp showing his/her health status before he/she will be registered.

Below is the full list of addresses of NYSC Orientation Camps across Nigeria:

i. ABIA – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Umunna, Bende Local Government Area, Abia State.
ii. ADAMAWA – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Lapondo Road, Damare, Girei Local Government Area, Adamawa State.
iii. AKWA IBOM – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikot Itie Udung, Nsit Atai Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
iv. ANAMBRA – Nnamdi Azikiwe NYSC Unity Permanent Orientation Camp, Umuawulu/Mbaukwu, Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State.
v. BAUCHI – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, KM 60 Wailo, Ganjuwa Local Government Council, Bauchi State.
vi. BAYELSA – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Boro Town, Via Kaiama Town, Kolokoma/Opokuma Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
vii. BENUE – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area, Kilometer 35 Makurdi Gboko Road, Benue State.
viii. BORNO – NYSC Temporary Orientation Camp, Mustapha Umar El-Kanemi Arabic Teachers College, Maiduguri, Borno State.
ix. CROSS RIVER – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Obubra, Obubra Local Government Area, Cross River State.
x. DELTA – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Former Martins TTC, Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State.
xi. EBONYI – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Macgregor College, Afikpo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State.
xii. EDO – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Opposite Igbinedion University, Okada, Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State.
xiii. EKITI – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ise-Orun/Emure Local Government Area, Ekiti State
xiv. ENUGU – Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Academy, Old Enugu-Onitsha Road, Obinagu, Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State.
xv. FCT – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Kubwa, Bwari Area Council, FCT.
xvi. GOMBE – NYSC Temporary Orientation Camp, Science Technical College, Amada, Kilometer 21, Gombe-Bauchi Highway, Near International Airport, Gombe State.
xvii. IMO – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp Former Girls’ Model Secondary School Eziama Obaire, Nkwerre Local Government Area, Imo State.
xviii. JIGAWA – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Opposite Army Barrack, Fanisau, Dutse Local Government Area, Jigawa State.
xix. KADUNA – Government College, Gwamna Road, Kurmin Mashi Kaduna, Kaduna State.
xx. KANO – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Kusala Dam, Karaye, Karaye Local Government, Kano State.
xxi. KATSINA – Youth Multi-purpose Centre/NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Mani Road, Katsina, Katsina State.
xxii. KEBBI – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Dakingari, Suru Local Government Area, Kebbi State.
xxiii. KOGI – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Asaya, Kabba Local Government Area, Kogi State.
xxiv. KWARA – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area, Kwara State.
xxv. LAGOS – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Iyana-Ipaja, Agege, Lagos State.
xxvi. NASARAWA – Magaji Dan-Yamusa Permanent Orientation Camp, Keffi, Nasarawa State.
xxvii. NIGER – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Former Abubakar Dada Senior Secondary School, Paiko, Niger State.
xxviii. OGUN – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikenne Road Sagamu, Sagamu Local Government Area, Ogun State.
xxix. ONDO – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko, Ikare-Akoko Local Government Area, Ondo State.
xxx. OSUN – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Aisu College Hospital Road Ede, Ede North Local Government Area, Osun State.
xxxi. OYO – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp Iseyin, Iseyin Local Government Area, Oyo State.
xxxii. PLATEAU – NYSC Temporary Orientation Camp, Waye Foundation by Buken Academy, Doi-Du, Jos South Local Government Area, Plateau State.
xxxiii. RIVERS – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area, Rivers State.
xxxiv. SOKOTO – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Wammako, Wammako Local Government Area, Sokoto State.
xxxv. TARABA – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Sibre Airport Road, Jalingo, Taraba State.
xxxvi. YOBE – NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Dazigau; KM 5, Potiskum-Kano Road, Nangere Local Government Area, Yobe State
xxxvii. ZAMFARA – Temporary Orientation Camp, UBEC Training Centre, Sokoto Byepass Road, Lalan, Gusau, Zamfara State.

The Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General OO Nafiu, extended best wishes to all prospective corps members, saying, “The Director General wishes all Prospective Corps Members safe journey to their respective Orientation Camps and a successful Service year.”

The Senate has confirmed that the Federal Government is preparing to clear the N81 billion backlog owed to N-Power beneficiaries for 2022 and 2023. This was disclosed on Tuesday following a closed-door meeting led by the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin.

The meeting was attended by federal officials, aggrieved N-Power beneficiaries, and their legal representative, Abba Hikima. After the session, Barau told journalists that the discussions were productive and that the government is now making arrangements to begin payments.

“The beneficiaries came here to the Senate to seek my intervention. I called the minister, and he responded positively,” Barau said. “We held a very fruitful discussion that assured the beneficiaries that the government is actively making preparations to settle the backlog.”

He added, “Having seen the clear commitment of the government, they have agreed to suspend legal action. This is a responsive government under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and no one will be denied what is rightfully theirs.”

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, confirmed that the debt stemmed from unpaid stipends included in the 2022 and 2023 budgets but not funded on time.

“We approached the service-wide vote and got an approval late last year. Now, we’re working to activate the payment in the current fiscal year. As a responsible government, we will resolve this before the year ends,” the minister said.

Representing the N-Power beneficiaries, lawyer Abba Hikima said litigation is being suspended in light of the Senate’s mediation.

“The government owes my clients about N81 billion. The minister has assured us that once the 2025 budget implementation kicks off, payments will commence. We appreciate the Senate Deputy President and other government officials for stepping in,” Hikima stated.

Chairman of the beneficiaries, Kehinde James, also expressed gratitude to Senator Barau and the officials involved, calling their intervention timely and important in ending the long delay.

The N-Power programme, one of Nigeria’s top social investment schemes, has faced funding delays, raising concerns among unemployed youth who depend on the allowances.