NYSC fixes January 21 for 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream I orientation nationwide

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced that the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream I Orientation Course will commence nationwide on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

The scheme disclosed this in a statement shared on its official X handle on Tuesday, stating that activities would take place simultaneously across all 37 NYSC orientation camps in the country, including the Federal Capital Territory.

According to the statement, registration for prospective corps members will begin on Wednesday, January 21, and end at midnight on Friday, January 23, 2026. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for Friday, January 23, while the orientation exercise will officially end with a closing ceremony on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

The Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, urged prospective corps members to travel safely to their states of deployment. He specifically advised them to avoid night journeys in the interest of personal safety.

NYSC management also appealed to corps members to strictly adhere to the orientation timetable and camp guidelines to ensure a smooth and successful programme across all camps.

The three-week orientation course remains the first and mandatory phase of the national service year. During the period, corps members undergo paramilitary drills, physical training, and lectures on national development and civic responsibility.

Participants are also exposed to the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, which is designed to equip them with vocational and entrepreneurial skills for self-reliance after service.

Cultural and social activities form part of the camp programme, aimed at promoting unity, tolerance, and interaction among young Nigerians from different ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds.

Established in 1973 after the Nigerian Civil War, the NYSC scheme was created to foster national unity, integration, and youth participation in nation-building.