NYSC trains corps members on AI, job market demands

The National Youth Service Corps Obafemi Owode Local Government (Mowe Sub-Office) in Ogun State has organised a career conference to prepare corps members of the 2026 Batch C for employment opportunities, workplace demands and life after their service year.

The Job Advisory lecture was held at The Expression Nation, Redemption Camp, Mowe, in conjunction with Bridge Conference 1.0 for members of the 2025 Batch C passing-out on Thursday, October 29, 2026.

With the theme, “Bridging the Gap Between Service and Success,” the programme featured presentations on career development, artificial intelligence, drug abuse prevention and a panel session involving human resource professionals from different organisations.

During his opening remarks, the Local Government Inspector of Obafemi Owode, Dr Oluyemi Disu, urged corps members to take the opportunity seriously, commending the Sustainable Development Goals Community Development Service group for organising the programme.

Disu stressed the importance of the JAC lecture, which serves as a career clinic preparing corps members for the next phase of their lives.

Representing the Ogun State NYSC Coordinator, the State Corps Human Resource Officer, Israel-Osho Fehintola, delivered the opening remarks following the address by the Local Government Inspector.

She urged the participants to pay attention to the lessons and advice shared by the speakers, noting that the knowledge acquired could help them navigate the transition from service to the labour market.

Speaking on the “Basic requirements needed by the corps members after youth service,” the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of KRYPTR,  Emmanuel Tarfa, identified mindset, competence and strategy as important considerations for corps members preparing for their careers.

“Your mindset determines the type of priesthood that you will join. You have to submit under authority and decide the organisation you will put your head,” he said.

Tarfa emphasised the need for corps members to prioritise competence and develop relevant skills that would prepare them for the demands of the workplace.

He encouraged the corps members to strengthen their knowledge of mathematics, English and general studies, describing them as useful areas of learning for financial problem-solving, effective communication and understanding political and social issues.

On the use of artificial intelligence in career development, the Chief Executive Officer of Trinixbyte Solutions, Paul Ajadi, urged corps members to learn how to use AI tools to improve their productivity and prepare for employment opportunities.

Speaking on the topic, “Leveraging AI in Transition into the Labour Market,” Ajadi explained that AI could help users work faster and improve the quality of their output when used with clear objectives and appropriate instructions.

“Use AI as an assistant, not a substitute for thinking,” he said.

Ajadi also highlighted the changing nature of work and the need for young graduates to acquire practical skills that could be demonstrated to potential employers.

“AI is not the advantage. Knowing how to use AI to solve problems is the advantage,” he added.

He advised corps members to provide sufficient context when using AI tools, identify the specific tasks they wanted the tools to perform, and give clear prompts, formats and preferred tones to obtain more refined results.

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He further encouraged them to move beyond acquiring certificates to developing practical projects that could demonstrate their abilities.

Addressing the corps members on drug abuse prevention, a drug abuse advocate, Baiye Adebowale, warned that substance misuse could undermine their future.

“If you do drugs, you are not abusing the drug; you are abusing yourself, your today and tomorrow,” he said.

He said the dangers of drug misuse had become a growing concern affecting people across different age groups and sections of society.

He called for sustained advocacy and public education to discourage substance misuse, urging participants to share the message with others in their communities.

“One of the real solutions we can use is this advocacy to keep spreading the news. Teach one to teach another, so with time we can all sing in unison to say no to self-abuse,” he said.

During the panel session, moderated by the SDG CDS president, Tofunmi, human resource professionals from different organisations shared practical advice on securing employment and building successful careers.

The Group Head at MOMAS Group, Olajumoke Aladekomo, identified mistakes in job applications, poor character and lack of guidance as some of the challenges graduates face when seeking employment.

She advised corps members to seek mentors, remain resilient, ask questions and demonstrate humility in their professional interactions.

Similarly, the Human Resources and Administration Lead at Planet Bottling Company Limited, Emmanuel Adejare, advised job seekers to pay close attention to the requirements of advertised vacancies and tailor their applications to the positions they sought.

He said one of the things that caught his attention when reviewing candidates’ CVs was whether they had a specialisation relevant to the job for which they were applying.

Adejare urged corps members to study job advertisements carefully and acquire adequate knowledge of their preferred fields before applying for positions.

The NYSC Ogun State Human Resources Officer, Israel-Osho Fehintola, also advised the participants to prioritise humility and develop skills they were passionate about.

She encouraged them to practise consistently and strive for competence in their chosen fields, noting that relevant skills and the right attitude could improve their chances in the labour market.

In his vote of thanks, Dr Disu appreciated the guest speakers, panellists and other participants for their contributions to the conference, expressing appreciation to the SDG CDS for organising the programme.

The conference exposed corps members to practical steps in securing employment, developing relevant skills and preparing for the demands of the workplace as they transition from the National Youth Service Corps to the labour market.