THE Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, has urged corps members to exercise caution in their use of social media ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning them against spreading misinformation, sharing artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content or engaging in partisan political activities.
News Point Nigeria reports that Nafiu gave the warning on Wednesday during his working visit to the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Katsina, where he described corps members as critical stakeholders in shaping Nigeria’s future and called on them to think critically before reposting or forwarding online content.
He stressed that with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, manipulated images and videos had become increasingly common, making it imperative for young Nigerians to verify information before sharing it.
“You don’t just share or repost blindly. Think through what you receive. Verify the source, check when the picture was taken, and determine whether it has been manipulated by AI. Technology has changed the information space completely,” he said.
The NYSC Director-General noted that Nigeria was entering a sensitive political period as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum, warning corps members to remain neutral and refrain from using their social media platforms to promote political parties or candidates.
“As corps members, you are not permitted to campaign for any political party or candidate. If your social media activities are traced to political promotion while wearing the NYSC identity, appropriate action will be taken,” he cautioned.
Nafiu reminded the corps members that many of them would serve as ad hoc electoral personnel during the next general elections, describing the assignment as a rare privilege to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
“You contribute more to democracy by helping thousands of Nigerians exercise their voting rights than by casting only your own vote. Your service will help deliver credible, free and fair elections,” he added.
The NYSC Director-General also encouraged corps members to embrace the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, saying vocational skills had become indispensable in today’s competitive economy.
According to him, the programme was designed not only to teach practical skills but also to inspire corps members to pursue lifelong learning and entrepreneurship.
Nafiu further explained that the orientation course was structured to instill discipline, teamwork, leadership, obedience and a sense of responsibility through various activities, including drills and the Man O’ War obstacle exercises.
Earlier, the Katsina State NYSC Coordinator, Evans Okwor, disclosed that the orientation exercise commenced successfully on August 5 with the arrival of camp officials.
He said a total of 1,333 corps members, comprising 759 males and 574 females, were registered, while 363 camp officials, made up of 173 NYSC staff and 190 personnel from collaborating agencies, were supporting the exercise.
Okwor stated that the camp clinic remained adequately equipped with essential drugs and staffed by 40 medical personnel, including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, laboratory scientists, dental therapists, a radiographer and a veterinary doctor.
According to him, 783 corps members and 40 camp officials had so far received medical attention, with 14 referrals made to the General Hospital, Katsina, while two patients remained on admission.
He added that the most common health challenges recorded included malaria, typhoid fever, asthma, peptic ulcer disease, body pains and blood pressure-related conditions.
The State Coordinator commended the corps members for maintaining a high level of discipline and adapting positively to camp activities.
It will be recalled that the Katsina State Government recently pledged to rehabilitate and remodel the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp following concerns over the deteriorating condition of its facilities, including hostels that have remained largely untouched for over two decades.
The 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course is scheduled to conclude on August 25, 2026.