The Lagos State Government has broken ground on the reconstruction of the National Youth Service Corps permanent secretariat in Yaba, reviving a project that sat abandoned for more than four decades and ending prolonged uncertainty over the scheme's operational future in the state.

The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, described the occasion as a defining moment in restoring institutional memory and securing a lasting legacy for Lagos youths.

"This restoration is historic. Preserving this monument will remind future generations that our administration recovered the NYSC secretariat and secured an enduring legacy for Lagos youths," he stated.

Lagos State NYSC Coordinator, Christiana Salmwang, provided context on the property, noting that the secretariat at No. 1 Industrial Avenue, Yaba, was the scheme's original permanent home in Lagos, constructed and handed over by the state government in the early 1980s before years of disuse set in.

She said the scheme's prolonged occupation of a temporary office in Surulere had exposed operations to flooding, vandalism and loss of records, making consistent service delivery increasingly difficult for staff and corps members alike.

The Permanent Secretary, Toyin Oke Osanyitolu, expressed confidence that on completion, the secretariat would rank among the best in the country, reflecting the state's commitment to youth development and sustainable institutional growth.

The Southwest Area Officer, Grace Elabor, commended the state government for its support and expressed confidence that the project would fulfil its intended purpose, while Lagos House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Youth and Social Development, Orekoya Abimbola, called for prompt completion with backing from both government and corporate organisations.

"My passionate appeal to stakeholders is that this project should be completed promptly, with support from government and corporate organisations, to provide the NYSC State Coordinator and members of staff a befitting office," Abimbola said.

Salmwang also appealed to corporate organisations, development partners and alumni to support the completion of a permanent secretariat befitting of the scheme's role in Lagos.