News
NYSC to Deepen Impact of Skill Acquisition on Corps Members
By Joel Ajayi
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has unveiled plans to enhance its collaboration with key stakeholders and expand its initiatives aimed at empowering Corps Members for self-reliance and entrepreneurship.
Speaking at the 2025 Strategic Meeting/Debriefing of State Officers held in Abuja, NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, emphasized the Scheme’s strategic engagement with various partners, including the Bank of Industry (BOI) through its Graduate Entrepreneurship Fund (GEF), the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), and private sector organizations such as SV-NED, OTNI, ASOLAR, among others.
General Nafiu noted that these partnerships are designed to go beyond theoretical learning by exposing Corps Members to real-world business environments. “These collaborations will equip Corps Members with entrepreneurial and leadership skills necessary for a successful transition into self-employment,” he said.
He highlighted that formal frameworks such as Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and comprehensive action plans with agencies like SMEDAN have been put in place to operationalize these efforts.
“By joining forces with these stakeholders, we aim to bridge the gap between education and employment, and ultimately empower Corps Members to become employers of labor,” he added.
The Director General, represented by Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad, Director of the Human Resources Management Department, stressed NYSC’s continued commitment to ICT development. He stated that in today’s digital age, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) proficiency is vital across all sectors—from e-commerce to tech-driven agriculture—and that the Scheme is prioritizing digital literacy for both Corps Members and staff.
Also speaking at the meeting, Mr. Kehinde Aremu-Cole, Director of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Department, reiterated that the SAED programme remains central to youth empowerment and national integration.
He said the theme of the meeting, “Operationalizing Excellence: A New Framework for Corps Empowerment through Policy Innovation, Efficiency, and Sustainability”, is a clarion call to SAED Schedule Officers to adopt innovative approaches to service delivery.
“We must move beyond traditional methods and focus on creating sustainable and efficient systems that truly empower our Corps Members,” Aremu-Cole stated.
He urged SAED Officers to improve service quality, ensure the programme exceeds its goals, and remain responsive to the evolving needs of participants.
He also noted recent developments within the SAED framework, including the review of skill sets, implementation strategies, updated workbooks, and curriculum development—designed to enhance impact and adaptability.
Aremu-Cole further advised SAED Officers to guide Corps Members on using the NYSC Integrated System (NIS), emphasizing the importance of skill selection through their dashboards for improved tracking and efficiency.
“You are expected to serve as mentors to Corps entrepreneurs—especially those who are beneficiaries of loans and grants from our partners—and as role models, inspiring active participation in post-camp training and other SAED activities,” he concluded.
News
Amb Lion Ogorry Files Landmark Lawsuit Against Sahara Reporters, Sowore For Misleading and Malicious Publication Endangering National Security
Ambassador Adebayo Lion Ogorry, a renowned public advocacy practitioner and activist, today announced the filing of a high-profile lawsuit against Sahara Reporters Ltd. and its publisher, Omoyele Sowore, in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The suit, numbered FCT/HC/CV/4767/2025, accuses the defendants of publishing a false, malicious, and reckless article that violates Nigeria’s Constitution, the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015, and other laws protecting public discourse, national security, and public order.
The originating summons, filed on November 24, 2025, stems from a Sahara Reporters article titled
“EXCLUSIVE: How Tinubu’s Defence Minister Matawalle Maintains Contact With Bandit Leaders, Ordered Them To Compel Communities To Vote For APC—Former Aide,” published on November 19, 2025.
Ambassador Ogorry alleges that the publication contains grave, unfounded accusations against the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, claiming he maintains illicit contacts with bandit leaders, orders communities to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC), and engages in activities that undermine counter-terrorism efforts.
These claims, according to the suit, are not only false but also fabricated to incite alarm, hatred, and ill-will, while endangering national security and public safety.
In his affidavit supporting the summons, Ambassador Ogorry, a Nigerian citizen and resident of Abuja with a long-standing commitment to public order and lawful civic discourse, emphasized that the article was disseminated widely across Sahara Reporters’ website, social media channels, X.com (Twitter) account, Facebook pages, WhatsApp broadcasts, and other platforms. He described the publication as a blatant violation of Section 39(3)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which prohibits speech that endangers public safety, national security, and public order. Furthermore, it contravenes Sections 24(1)(a) & (b) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 by disseminating false, misleading, and harmful information capable of causing alarm or ill-will.
“The defendants’ reckless actions have not only tarnished the reputation of a dedicated public servant but have also compromised ongoing military operations against banditry and terrorism in Nigeria’s North-West region,” said Ambassador Ogorry. “This publication promotes distrust, exposes the Minister to risks, and undermines the morale of our armed forces engaged in counter-terrorism. It is a direct assault on our national security and the freedom of expression that must be balanced with responsibility.”
The lawsuit seeks the following reliefs from the court:
– A declaration that the publication is false, misleading, malicious, and not protected speech under Section 39(1) of the Constitution (as amended).
– A declaration that it falls within restricted speech under Section 39(3)(a), endangering public safety, national security, and public order.
– A declaration that it violates Sections 24(1)(a) & (b) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 by prohibiting false, harmful, or misleading information.
– AN ORDER OF INJUNCTION restraining the Defendants, their agents, or privies from further publishing, distributing, circulating, or causing to be circulated the said false publication or any other malicious publication especially as it relates to and against the person of Defence Minister, Dr. Matawalle.
– An order directing the defendants to issue a public retraction of the publication and publish a full apology on their website and social media channels for 14 consecutive days.
– General and exemplary damages of N10,000,000,000 (Ten Billion Naira) for the frivolous, false, and malicious publication geared toward endangering public safety, national security, and public order.
Ambassador Ogorry highlighted that the article, based on unverified claims from an alleged “former senior aide,” lacks any official record or evidence, demonstrating the defendants’ disregard for truth and ethical journalism. He urged the court to address this as a matter of urgent national importance, citing precedents such as President F.R.N. v. ISA (2017) and Guardian Newspapers v. AIEH (2011), which affirm that freedom of expression does not protect reckless publications that threaten security.
“This lawsuit is not just about correcting a falsehood; it’s about safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy, protecting public officials from baseless attacks, and ensuring media accountability,” Ambassador Ogorry added. “Sahara Reporters and Omoyele Sowore must be held responsible for their role in spreading dangerous misinformation that could fuel terrorism and disrupt public order.”
The case is set for hearing in the Abuja Judicial Division, and Ambassador Ogorry expressed confidence in the judiciary’s ability to uphold justice and constitutional principles.
About Ambassador Adebayo Lion Ogorry
Ambassador Adebayo Lion Ogorry is a public advocacy practitioner, activist, and Nigerian citizen dedicated to promoting national security, public order, and lawful civic discourse. With a focus on protecting public discourse from malicious interference, he advocates for responsible journalism and governance.
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