The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has urged young Nigerians to recognise, harness and explore the country’s rich cultural diversity as a powerful tool for national unity, peace and sustainable development.
The call was made by the Anambra State Coordinator of NYSC, Pauline Ojisua, during the 2026 Batch A Stream I Cultural Carnival held on Saturday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe NYSC Unity Permanent Orientation Camp, Mbaukwu/Umuawulu, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Ojisua explained that the cultural carnival was organised to showcase Nigeria’s vast cultural heritage while highlighting opportunities for youths to transform cultural assets into economic value, including through exportation.
According to her, the event goes beyond colourful displays of attire and dance, serving instead as a profound testimony to Nigeria’s national strength, drawn from its over 250 ethnic groups.
“Our diversity is not a fault line for division, but a robust bridge to unity, peace and sustainable development,” she said.
“By stepping into the songs and dances of cultures different from your own, you begin the journey toward understanding, which is the foundation of lasting harmony.”
She stressed that Nigeria’s cultural differences remain the nation’s greatest asset, urging youths to build a society where every culture is respected and every citizen feels a sense of belonging.
“The event provides a platform for corps members to reconnect with their roots and strengthen the spirit of national unity while serving,” Ojisua added.
She further encouraged youth organisations across communities to explore cultural enterprises as a means of job creation and self-reliance.
“Through culture, many Nigerian youths can be gainfully employed. We urge young people to harness these opportunities to develop themselves and society at large,” she said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Ben Obi, described the NYSC cultural carnival as a celebration of unity in diversity, a core value of the scheme.
According to him, the event enables corps members to appreciate one another’s cultures, build friendships across ethnic and regional lines and reaffirm a shared Nigerian identity.
“We encourage tolerance, mutual respect and cultural understanding as essential ingredients for peaceful coexistence, national integration and sustainable development,” Obi said.
He commended the Anambra State Government, through the Ministry of Youth Development, for its commitment to empowering young people as responsible leaders and agents of positive change.
The Commissioner for Youth Development and Chairman of the State NYSC Governing Board, Patrick Aghamba, praised the NYSC for preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage and promoting peace, while acknowledging the efforts of Governor Chukwuma Soludo in advancing youth development.
Representing the governor, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ifeatu Emordi, described the NYSC as a symbol of national unity, noting that the programme continues to bring Nigerians together across ethnic, religious and regional boundaries.
Highlights of the carnival included corps members showcasing traditional attire, dances and cuisines from various parts of the country. The event featured 10 platoons representing different Nigerian cultures, with competitive displays of indigenous fashion and dance.
Corps members who participated in the carnival expressed appreciation to the NYSC for organising what they described as a colourful and unifying experience.
The call echoes similar appeals made in November 2023 by former Anambra State NYSC Coordinator, Blessing Iruma, who also urged Nigerian youths to leverage cultural diversity for personal and societal development during the 2023 Batch C Stream I Cultural Carnival.