The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed, has reaffirmed the Scheme’s commitment to building a more inclusive and supportive service year for corps members living with disabilities, declaring that no Nigerian graduate should be excluded from national service because of physical or sensory challenges.
The NYSC boss made this known at a recent event in Abuja, where he unveiled plans aimed at removing long-standing barriers that have made the service year difficult for persons with disabilities. According to him, the Scheme is developing new strategies to ensure that corps members with what he described as “special needs” are treated with fairness, dignity, and provided with the necessary support to thrive during their service.
General Ahmed stressed that disability should never be seen as inability, insisting that graduates with disabilities have enormous potential to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s development if given the right environment and opportunities.
“Having a disability should not prevent any Nigerian graduate from serving their country or contributing to nation-building,” the DG stated. “Our responsibility is to create a system where everyone is carried along and no one feels left behind.”
Focus on Accessible Orientation Camps
A major aspect of the proposed reforms is the improvement of infrastructure at NYSC orientation camps across the country. The DG disclosed that the Scheme is working towards upgrading critical facilities to make them accessible to all corps members, including those who use wheelchairs, crutches, or other mobility aids.
Dormitories, restrooms, parade grounds, and training facilities, he said, are being reviewed with accessibility in mind to ensure that corps members with disabilities can move around camps with ease and dignity.
This development, many stakeholders believe, could mark a turning point in addressing years of complaints about unfriendly camp environments that often expose corps members with disabilities to avoidable hardship.
Thoughtful Postings, Safer Assignments
Beyond the orientation camps, the NYSC leadership is also rethinking how corps members with disabilities are posted for their primary assignments. General Ahmed noted that the Scheme will adopt a more considerate posting process, avoiding placements in hard-to-reach or remote locations with poor road networks and limited facilities.
Instead, corps members with disabilities will be deployed to locations that are accessible, safer, and better equipped to support their needs, a move aimed at reducing risks and ensuring they can effectively perform their duties.
Empowerment Through SAED
In addition, the Director-General revealed that the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme will be adapted to better support corps members with disabilities. Through specialised and inclusive training, the Scheme hopes to equip them with practical skills that can translate into sustainable livelihoods after their service year.
According to General Ahmed, empowering graduates with disabilities through entrepreneurship will not only enhance their self-reliance but also position them as job creators and employers of labour.
“With the right skills and support, they can build successful businesses and contribute to economic growth,” he noted, adding that the initiative reinforces the belief that there is truly ability in disability.
A Step Towards Disability-Inclusive Service
The renewed commitment by the NYSC leadership has been welcomed by advocates for disability inclusion, who have long called for systemic reforms within the Scheme. If effectively implemented, the planned measures could significantly improve the service year experience for thousands of graduates with disabilities and set a new standard for inclusion in public institutions.
As Nigeria continues to push for equality and inclusion, the NYSC’s pledge sends a strong signal that national service must reflect the values of fairness, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all—regardless of physical ability.
