By Harriet Tornguvan
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has expressed readiness to deepen collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to strengthen youth mentorship, corps empowerment and national integration across the country.
This was disclosed during a courtesy visit by the Registrar and Chief Executive of CIPM, Mrs Oluwatoyin Naiwo, to the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking during the visit, Naiwo described CIPM as the only statutory regulator of human resource management practice in Nigeria, established by an Act of Parliament in 2004. She noted that the institute currently boasts over 20,000 certified members, including senior public officials, and operates five zonal offices nationwide, with its headquarters in Lagos.
She commended the NYSC for what she termed its visionary reforms focused on skills development, digital innovation and employability, initiatives she said have repositioned the Scheme as a strategic platform for national workforce readiness.
“We commend your visionary reform which is focused on skills development, digital innovation and employability, which are repositioning the Scheme as a powerful engine for national workforce readiness,” Naiwo stated.
The CIPM Registrar stressed the need for Corps Members to be adequately acquainted with the institute and guided towards structured post-service career opportunities. She proposed that CIPM be given the opportunity to make presentations during NYSC Orientation Courses to expose Corps Members to workplace expectations, professional certification pathways and structured career planning.
According to her, such engagement would equip young graduates with practical insights into human resource management and broader employability skills, thereby enhancing their competitiveness in the labour market.
Responding, the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, welcomed the proposal and reaffirmed the Scheme’s commitment to partnering with organisations dedicated to youth development and national integration.
He noted that Corps Members are consistently eager for initiatives that add value to their service year and long-term career prospects, stressing that manpower development remains central to the mandate of the Scheme.
The NYSC boss disclosed that both organisations would constitute a joint technical team to develop a framework for implementing the proposed areas of collaboration.
The partnership, if fully realised, is expected to expand mentorship opportunities for Corps Members and strengthen the bridge between academic training and professional practice in Nigeria’s evolving workforce landscape.
