NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORPS (NYSC) IN NIGERIA: SHADES OF TRUTHS AND THE COSTLY FACT ABOUT THE SCHEME

It is notwithstanding a derisive sight to see freshly baked graduates in Nigeria, having acquired a seal of completion of his or her bachelor’s degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND) programme in a tertiary institution, to have little or no idea of what the next step in a graduate’s sojourn entails. Interestingly, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is at first instance seen by many as an avenue to flaunt sparkling white tees, green khakis and jungle boots to the rest of the world while they wear a scent of superiority all around. And to some others, it is a cobweb of restriction for the next one year. Only a few are aware of the pristine quest before them; to lend hand on deck for the goals and objectives of the scheme built on a robust principle of selfless service, patriotic leadership and mutual tolerance which should thump that of selfish individual interests.

Perhaps we re-define the cause by firstly travelling a bit down the memory lane. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) can trace its inception to as far back as 1973, three years after the Nigerian civil war. When the smoke arising from the ousted flames of warfare still lingered, and the debate on national unity attracted discorded socio-political views and stances, the then-led administration by General Yakubu Gowon, envisioned NYSC, and established it, to promote post-conflict peace, reconciliation and the rehabilitation of national unity. Emphasis was laid on this scheme being an avenue to instill in youths the spirit of national consciousness as a fundamental tool in nation building.

It should be noted that the scheme was initially open to only graduates of Nigerian universities before it was later extended to polytechnics’ graduate in a few years later in 1976.

Given the well-intended reasons above and making a lucid reflection on what has played out in the past, almost five decades ago, could we say this scheme has met its aims and objectives? Can we vouch with hands and chest and pledge that truly, the scheme has been instrumental in the concrete build of national unity and peace? If yes, what yardstick can we measure its success with? If no, what are the conspicuous indicators that made us arrive at such conclusion?

A good icing on the cake NYSC offer is to afford Nigerian youths I'll say, is the spirit of self-reliance. In the early stage of the programme, a corps member is often deployed to an Orientation Camp in any of the 36 states in the country and the Federal Capital Territory, which normally fall outside his or her place of birth and domicile. These mobilized young individuals are usually made to undergo basic military training for a span of three weeks during which a trait of self-reliance and self-defense is forged in these ‘youth corpers’ as they are mostly called. Little wonder why the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigader General Shuaibu Ibrahim earlier this year, said corps members are part of the national defence policy of Nigeria and can be mobilized for war if need be. Even though the validity of his submission is questionable, the fact still remains that the NYSC is an ore which forge an iron out of corps members.

It might also interest you to know that there are various batches and streams in which youth corps members are being mobilized for their orientation course. And with that, it would be inaccurate not to add the various batches and steeams with the duration of their orientation course. So I'll just do justice to that. NYSC has 3 batches (Batches A, Batches B and Batches C) and each of the batches have two streams (Stream 1 and Stream 2). For Batch A Stream 1's orientation course, it was between March 10th and March 30th, for Batch A Stream 2, it was May 18th to June 8th, for Batch B Stream 1, it was July 27th to August 18th, for Batçh B Stŕeam 2 it was slated for August 24th to September 15th. Just recently, Batch C Stream 1 corps members were mobilized to their orientation camps between October 26th and November 15th, while the last stream for the year; Batch C Stream 2 were mobilized between November 23rd to December 19th.

At the end of the training, they get posted to their areas of primary assignment, where they would stay and work for the rest of their service years. Here, NYSC facilitates the revitalization of nationalism and national responsibility, by making corps members participate in vital areas of national development like; educating younger students, serving in census and election exercises, immunization programmes and various leadership positions that constantly pricks the conscience of the nation to the right course of development. Not only that, a number of conjugal bliss and inter-ethnic marriages have been festered by NYSC owing to the situations where corps members find love on orientation camps and get married thereafter.

All photos can to be traced to my Facebook account [(here[https://www.facebook.com/ajibola.faruk.1)]

GLORY BE TO GOD FOR MY SUCCESSFUL JOURNEY IN LIFE, I WANNA APPRECIATE MY PARENT FOR ALL THEY HAVE DONE FOR ME THROUGHOUT MY JOURNEY.

DELAY IS NOT DENY🙏

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