Port Harcourt, Rivers State – In a significant boost to youth development and national service infrastructure, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has given full approval for the comprehensive upgrade and renovation of facilities at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp located in Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area. The decision comes at a time when Rivers State is experiencing a remarkable surge in the number of corps members preferring the state as their primary place of deployment for the mandatory one-year national service.
The announcement was made on Wednesday when the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, paid a courtesy visit to the Governor at the Government House in Port Harcourt. The meeting underscored the growing appeal of Rivers State among young Nigerian graduates participating in the NYSC scheme, a programme designed to foster unity, development, and skill acquisition across the country.
Governor Fubara attributed the rising preference for Rivers State to the prevailing peaceful atmosphere and the state’s long-standing reputation for warm hospitality. “More and more parents are now comfortable sending their children to serve in Rivers State because of the security and welcoming environment we have cultivated,” he stated. He emphasised that creating a safe and conducive atmosphere remains a core responsibility of any responsible government, alongside the provision of basic amenities for citizens and visitors alike.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to these obligations, Governor Fubara disclosed that he has directed the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Benino Anabraba, to immediately visit the Nonwa-Gbam orientation camp, conduct a thorough on-the-spot assessment, and submit a detailed report to enable swift execution of the approved upgrades. The Governor promised that work would commence without delay once the report is received.
Beyond the camp renovation, Governor Fubara extended further goodwill gestures to the NYSC. He pledged to provide suitable office accommodation for the newly established NYSC South-South Regional Office in Port Harcourt. Additionally, he assured the scheme that the state government is seriously considering either a complete renovation or outright relocation of the Rivers State NYSC Secretariat, which he described as outdated and no longer befitting the stature of the organisation.
Governor Fubara stressed that although the NYSC is a federal agency, the primary beneficiaries of its facilities and programmes are the people of Rivers State and visitors who come into the state. “It is therefore only proper that the state government steps in to complement federal efforts and ensure that corps members have a conducive environment to carry out their orientation and primary assignments,” he explained.
During the visit, Brigadier General Nafiu provided eye-opening statistics that highlighted Rivers State’s growing attractiveness. He revealed that a total of 2,586 corps members are currently undergoing orientation under the 2025 Batch ‘C’ Stream I programme in the state, placing Rivers as the fourth most preferred posting destination nationwide, behind only Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Oyo State. Furthermore, 8,349 indigenes of Rivers State are presently deployed to various parts of the country for their national service.
The Director General underscored the immense economic value that corps members bring to host states. According to his calculations, the services rendered by corps members in Rivers State save the state government approximately ₦15 billion annually when compared with the cost of employing professionals on regular civil service salaries to perform the same duties in sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, and administration.
Brigadier General Nafiu expressed profound gratitude to Governor Fubara for previous support, particularly the allocation of land for the construction of an official residence for the State Coordinator, as well as ongoing assistance toward improving camp infrastructure. He used the occasion to make additional requests, including the urgent reconstitution of the State and Local Government NYSC Boards to enhance coordination, and the relocation of the NYSC office currently situated in the congested Mile 2 market area of Diobu, Port Harcourt, to a more spacious and secure location.
Providing historical context, the NYSC boss noted that the scheme, which commenced operations in the 1973/1974 service year with a modest 2,764 participants, has grown exponentially. Today, more than 400,000 corps members are actively serving across the country, while projections indicate that over 650,000 graduates will be eligible for mobilisation in 2026 alone. This rapid expansion, he said, has placed enormous pressure on existing orientation camp facilities nationwide, making upgrades and renovations an urgent national priority.
The Director General is currently on a nationwide tour inspecting orientation camps to assess their conditions and engage state governors on partnership opportunities. His visit to Rivers State has evidently yielded positive outcomes, with Governor Fubara’s swift approval and additional commitments demonstrating a strong state-federal collaboration in support of youth service and national development.
The approved renovation in Nonwa-Gbam is expected to include improvements to hostels, lecture halls, kitchens, water supply, electricity, sporting facilities, and general sanitation—enhancements that will not only benefit incoming corps members but also reinforce Rivers State’s position as a top-choice destination. Stakeholders have hailed the development as a timely intervention that aligns with the NYSC’s theme of fostering unity and development while providing corps members with dignified and motivating service conditions.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with youth unemployment and the need for skilled manpower in rural and public institutions, gestures such as Governor Fubara’s are seen as vital investments in the future of the country’s young graduates and in the overall success of the NYSC scheme, now in its sixth decade of existence.
