The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has commended the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC) for its longstanding role in shaping Nigerian youths into responsible and visionary leaders.
General Nafiu gave the commendation while delivering a goodwill message at a youth conference organized by the CLTC to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, held at the Monoliza Event Centre, Abuja.
He described the CLTC as a vital partner in NYSC’s mission of nation-building, noting that the Centre has been instrumental in instilling values of patriotism, unity, selflessness, and commitment to duty among young Nigerians.
“The CLTC has been a dependable partner in our shared goal of grooming young graduates for national development. Together with other institutions such as the Nigerian Army, NDLEA, and INEC, CLTC has contributed immensely to the NYSC’s success story over the past 52 years,” he stated.
The NYSC boss also urged continued collaboration between the two institutions to sustain the gains achieved in youth development, stressing that purposeful young leaders remain central to Nigeria’s progress.
Speaking on the conference theme, “Reviving Values and Volunteerism among the Youth,” General Nafiu said it aligns perfectly with NYSC’s Community Development Service (CDS) — a platform that promotes volunteerism and social responsibility among Corps Members.
“For over five decades, the NYSC has nurtured the spirit of volunteerism through the CDS programme. Corps Members have made remarkable contributions to improving the living conditions of people across their host communities,” he added.
In his keynote address, Mr. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Chief Executive Officer of Future Africa, urged Nigerian youths to embrace qualities that define true leadership. He identified resolve, resourcefulness, relentlessness, and responsibility as the four key traits required to earn trust and drive transformation.
Earlier in her remarks, the Director-General of CLTC, Ms. Rinsola Abiola, said the conference aimed to reawaken national values and inspire youth volunteerism as tools for social impact.
“Our goal is to produce a blueprint that policymakers can adopt to revive the values upon which our nation was built,” she said.
The event brought together youth leaders, policymakers, and development partners to discuss strategies for rebuilding a value-driven and volunteer-oriented generation of Nigerian youths.