Mbah Calls for Quality Education, Jobs, Enterprise Opportunities and Strong Institutions to Secure Nigeria’s Future.
Enugu Media Village (EMV), the Most Updated Online News Platform — October 6, 2026
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has called on Nigerians to collectively build a country that earns the patriotism of its young people and makes migration a choice rather than an escape route.
Mbah made the call in Awgu during the swearing-in ceremony of 2,101 members of the 2026 Batch ‘C’ Stream of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployed to Enugu State.
The Governor said Nigeria’s large and youthful population could become a major demographic advantage if the country creates the right conditions for young people to transform their energy, skills and talents into productivity and prosperity.
According to him, achieving this requires sustained investment in quality education, skills development, employment, enterprise opportunities and effective institutions.
“We often ask young Nigerians to be patriotic. But let us ask ourselves a more difficult question: How do we earn the patriotism of our young people if they feel excluded from their country’s promise?” Mbah said.
He stressed that patriotism must be nurtured by creating a country where young Nigerians can see a future for themselves, where merit is rewarded, hard work has meaning and people do not have to leave the country before their dreams can become reality.
The Governor also urged young Nigerians to complement government efforts by taking responsibility for nation-building, even in the face of existing challenges.
He challenged the corps members to move beyond asking what Nigeria could offer them and consider what they could contribute to the country’s development.
Mbah said the collective goal should be to build a Nigeria where young people can travel abroad, pursue international opportunities and return home by choice, rather than feeling compelled to abandon the country in search of a better future.
“Together, we can build a country where ‘japa’ is a choice, not an escape,” he said.
The Governor further assured the corps members that the Enugu State Government would continue to work with the NYSC authorities to provide a conducive, secure and supportive environment throughout their service year.
He noted that Enugu’s cosmopolitan history demonstrates that a person’s place of origin should not determine how far they can rise, stressing that belonging is not only about birthplace but also about contribution to society.
Earlier, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs. Oluwakemi Awolola, disclosed that 983 male and 1,118 female corps members had been successfully registered for the 2026 Batch ‘C’ Stream orientation programme in Enugu.
She commended the Mbah administration for its commitment to the welfare, security and wellbeing of corps members, particularly the ongoing rehabilitation and improvement of facilities at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Awgu.
The ceremony featured the formal swearing-in of the corps members and a parade, while Governor Mbah also inspected completed and ongoing projects at the orientation camp.
The Governor’s message reinforces the broader need for government, institutions and citizens to create an environment where Nigeria’s young population can find opportunity, dignity and hope at home.
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