Governor Peter Mbah has challenged Nigeria to build an economy and society in which young people can pursue opportunities abroad by choice rather than feeling compelled to leave because they cannot see a future at home.
Mbah said demands for patriotism from young Nigerians must be matched by a national commitment to education, employment, enterprise, functioning institutions and opportunities for advancement.
The Enugu State Governor spoke in Awgu during the swearing in ceremony for members of the 2026 Batch C Stream of the National Youth Service Corps deployed to the state.
He said Nigeria’s large youth population could become an enormous national advantage if young people were equipped with the skills and opportunities required to convert their talent into productivity.
Mbah argued that political and institutional leaders should ask how the country could earn the patriotism of younger generations who sometimes feel excluded from Nigeria’s promise.
He said quality education, an enabling environment for businesses, effective institutions and a system that rewards merit would give young Nigerians greater confidence in the country’s future.
The governor, however, said citizenship also placed responsibilities on young Nigerians.
He urged corps members not to abandon the country simply because of its imperfections, but to participate in efforts to improve it.
According to Mbah, Nigeria should aspire to become a country where young people can travel and work anywhere in the world without believing that leaving home is their only path towards success.
He urged the corps members to take their national assignments seriously, particularly those posted to schools and communities where their work could have a lasting impact.
Mbah assured the new corps members that his administration would continue working with the NYSC to protect their safety and welfare.
He also told them that Enugu’s history demonstrated that contribution rather than birthplace could determine a person’s place in society.
The governor cited Umaru Altine, a Fulani man from Sokoto who became the first Mayor of Enugu after the city attained municipal status in 1952.
NYSC State Coordinator Oluwakemi Awolola said 2,101 prospective corps members had been registered for the Batch C programme in Enugu.
They comprise 983 men and 1,118 women.
She thanked the state government for interventions at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Awgu and support for corps members.
Mbah later inspected completed and ongoing projects at the orientation camp.
