The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Y.D. Ahmed, has disclosed that female graduates have consistently outnumbered their male counterparts in NYSC mobilisation since 2020, describing the development as a major demographic shift in Nigeria’s education sector.
Ahmed made the revelation during an appearance on News Night on Channels Television, noting that the trend marks a significant reversal in the history of the scheme established in 1973.
“Since 2020 till date, consistently, the female gender has topped our mobilisation chart. We are producing more female graduates in Nigeria today than males,” he said.
The NYSC boss attributed the development to the long-term impact of policies promoting girl-child education under global initiatives such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to him, the trend could reshape Nigeria’s future workforce and leadership structure, with more women likely to occupy positions of authority in government and the private sector in the coming years.
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“What that tells us is that in years to come, we are going to have more females in places of authority or in government than males,” Ahmed stated.
He urged employers and policymakers to begin preparing for the changing workforce dynamics by addressing workplace concerns affecting women, including maternity leave and career sustainability.
Ahmed also revealed that the NYSC is transitioning fully into a Gen Z-driven era, noting that by the end of the year, the scheme would no longer be mobilising millennials.
“We are now dealing with Gen Z corps members, and that is why we are engaging more on social media platforms like TikTok and others,” he added.
On funding and youth empowerment, the DG highlighted the proposed NYSC Trust Fund Bill currently awaiting presidential assent, explaining that the initiative would provide financial support for corps members through startup grants and skills development programmes.
He said the trust fund would help move the scheme beyond monthly allowances and create opportunities for corps members to access zero-interest funding for entrepreneurial ventures.
Ahmed noted that as the NYSC prepares to mark its 53rd anniversary on May 22, the increasing number of female graduates reflects broader social and educational changes shaping the future of Nigeria.