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, across all 37 NYSC Orientation Camps in the country.
The announcement was contained in a statement posted on the Scheme’s official 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
According to the NYSC, camp registration for all prospective corps members will begin on the first day of the orientation exercise and last for three days.
“Camp Registration for all Corps Members will take place from Wednesday, 21st to midnight of Friday, 23rd January, 2026,” the statement read.
The Scheme added that the Swearing-in Ceremony has been scheduled for Friday, January 23, 2026, while the Closing Ceremony will hold on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
Naijaonpoint reports that the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, urged all prospective corps members to travel safely to their various states of deployment.
He specifically cautioned them against night journeys, stressing the importance of personal safety during the mobilisation exercise.
The NYSC management also advised corps members to strictly adhere to the orientation camp schedule to ensure a smooth and successful programme nationwide.
The NYSC scheme, which was established in 1973 to promote national unity and integration in the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War, mandates the three-week orientation camp as the foundational phase of national service.
During the orientation period, corps members are exposed to paramilitary drills, physical training, and lectures on national issues.
They also participate in the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme, designed to equip them with vocational and entrepreneurial skills, as well as cultural and social activities.
According to the NYSC, the orientation camp is aimed at fostering unity, discipline and teamwork among young Nigerians, while encouraging interpersonal relations across ethnic, religious and cultural lines.
The Scheme reiterated its commitment to using the programme to strengthen national cohesion and prepare corps members for the remaining phases of their service year.