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Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has called for a nation that earns the patriotism of young Nigerians and makes migration a choice rather than an escape, as 2,101 corps members were sworn in for the 2026 Batch C Stream in Awgu.
Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has charged Nigeria ns to collectively build a nation that earns the patriotism of young people, while also making migration a choice rather than an escape route.
He spoke in Awgu on Friday during the swearing-in ceremony for the 2026 Batch C Stream of the National Youth Service Corps members deployed to Enugu State. Mbah stressed that Nigeria's extraordinary youth population could only become a demographic dividend if the nation creates the education, skills, jobs, enterprise and institutions that enable young Nigerians to convert their energy and talent into productivity and prosperity. He said this is the essence of the NYSC beyond experiencing other parts of Nigeria.
Building Youth Patriotism in Nigeria
The governor posed a difficult question to Nigerians, asking how the country can earn the patriotism of its young people if they feel excluded from its promise. He said patriotism must be cultivated by creating a country in which young people can see a future for themselves. He outlined the requirements for this, including providing quality education, creating an enabling environment for enterprise, expanding opportunities and making institutions work.
He added that Nigeria must build a country where merit is rewarded, hard work has meaning and dreams do not have to be exported before they can become reality. Mbah, however, urged the youth to never forget the demands patriotism makes of them, both in good and difficult times.
He said patriotism demands that even when the country is imperfect, young people refuse to give up on its possibilities, criticise what is wrong without abandoning what can be made right, and ask not only what Nigeria can give them but also what they can give Nigeria. He emphasised that together Nigerians can build a country where japa is a choice, not an escape, and where young people can travel the world without feeling compelled to abandon home.
Citizenship and Enugu Host Community
He told the corps members that if called upon to teach, they should teach as though Nigeria's future were sitting before them, because it is. He also encouraged them to ask what they can do to change Nigeria rather than simply asking when Nigeria will change, describing that as the question of citizenship.
The governor assured the corps members of their welfare, safety and comfort in Enugu State, reminding them that Enugu is a state rich in cosmopolitan history and where every citizen can attain any height he or she is capable of. He said the Government of Enugu State will continue to work with the NYSC authorities to provide a conducive, secure and supportive environment for their service.
He added that particular attention will be paid to their welfare, safety and the conditions under which they discharge their responsibilities across the state. He told them they are not strangers in Enugu, noting that when Enugu was elevated to municipal status in 1952, Mallam Umaru Altine, a Fulani man from Sokoto, became its first Mayor.
NYSC Batch C Registration and Welfare
He said this history shows that in Enugu, where you come from need not determine how far you can go, that belonging is not always about birthplace, and that citizenship is also about contribution. Speaking earlier, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs Oluwakemi Awolola, on behalf of the Director-General of the agency, Brigadier-General Olakunle Nafiu, said a total of 2,101 corps members had been registered under Batch C. She thanked Governor Mbah for improved welfare of corps members and for making their environment conducive and safe.
She reported that a total of 2,101 prospective corps members, comprising 983 males and 1,118 females, have been successfully registered for the 2026 Batch C Stream Orientation Course in Enugu State. She said their level of cooperation, enthusiasm and willingness to participate in camp activities has been commendable. Awolola said the NYSC remained grateful to the Mbah administration for its unwavering commitment to the welfare, security and general well-being of corps members in the state.
She said the various interventions of the state government have continued to create a more conducive environment for the successful implementation of the NYSC programmes in Enugu State. Of particular significance, she said, is the ongoing comprehensive intervention and overhaul of facilities at the NYSC permanent Orientation Camp in Awgu, as well as improved welfare support and allowance provided for serving corps members in the state.
Discipline During NYSC Service
She said discipline remained the bedrock of the NYSC scheme, urging the corps members to adhere to the rules and regulations guiding the service. You should adhere to camp rules and regulations. Have respect for constituted authority, while observing NYSC bye-laws are mandatory act, she advised.
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GuardianNigeria:Let’s built a nation that earns patriotism of young people – Gov MbahThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Peter Mbah Enugu State NYSC Nigeria Youth Patriotism Awgu Japa NYSC Batch C 2026 Japa Migration
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