Governor Peter Mbah has called for a Nigeria that creates opportunities for young people, saying migration should be a choice rather than an escape, as 2,101 corps members were sworn in in Enugu.
Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has called for a Nigeria that earns the patriotism of young people by creating opportunities for education, employment and enterprise.
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has urged Nigerians to work collectively towards building a country where young people can pursue opportunities at home and abroad without feeling compelled to leave.
Mbah made the call in Awgu during the swearing-in ceremony of 2,101 members of the 2026 Batch C Stream of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployed to Enugu State.
The governor said Nigeria’s large youth population could become a demographic dividend if the country invested in quality education, skills development, job creation, enterprise and effective institutions.
He said the NYSC programme offered young Nigerians an opportunity to experience other parts of the country while contributing to national development.
“We often ask young Nigerians to be patriotic. But let us ask ourselves a more difficult question: How do we earn the patriotism of our young people if they feel excluded from their country’s promise?” he asked.
Mbah said patriotism should be encouraged by creating a country where young people could envision a future for themselves.
“We must provide quality education; create an enabling environment for enterprise; expand opportunities; make our institutions work.
“We 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,” he said.
He also urged the corps members to remain committed to Nigeria despite the country’s challenges, stressing that patriotism required citizens to contribute to addressing national problems.
According to him, young Nigerians should be willing to identify shortcomings while remaining committed to helping the country improve.
“Together, we can build a country where ‘japa’ is a choice, not an escape; where our young people can travel the world without feeling compelled to abandon home,” he said.
The governor encouraged corps members to approach their service with a sense of responsibility, particularly those assigned to teaching and other roles that directly affect communities.
He also assured them that the state government would continue working with the NYSC to provide a secure and supportive environment during their service year.
Mbah said Enugu’s history demonstrated that a person’s place of origin should not limit their opportunities. He cited Mallam Umaru Altine, a Fulani man from Sokoto who became the first mayor of Enugu after the town attained municipal status in 1952.
He said the example illustrated how contribution and participation could shape a person’s sense of belonging.
Earlier, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs. Oluwakemi Awolola, speaking on behalf of the Director-General, Brigadier-General Olakunle Nafiu, disclosed that 2,101 corps members had registered for the 2026 Batch C Stream orientation course in Enugu.
She said the figure comprised 983 males and 1,118 females, adding that the corps members had demonstrated cooperation and enthusiasm during camp activities.
Awolola thanked the state government for its support for the welfare and security of corps members, particularly its intervention in the renovation and improvement of facilities at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Awgu.
She also acknowledged the governor’s commitment to improved welfare support and allowances for serving corps members.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu, and the Chairman of Awgu Local Government Area, Hon. Uchenna Okolo, assured the corps members of continued cooperation between the state, local governments and NYSC authorities to support their service year.
The corps members were sworn in by the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Afojulu Ozoemena, who was represented by Justice Anthony Onovo.
The ceremony featured a parade by the newly registered corps members.
Governor Mbah also toured the orientation camp, where he inspected completed and ongoing projects undertaken by his administration to improve facilities for corps members.
Visit GMTNewsng for more news stories.
