It is obvious that some “educated” Nigerians are actually ignorant of the operations of government and it’s agencies. That should be the reason why certain individuals and groups are castigating the NYSC for being made a compulsory engagement for Nigerian graduates.
It is obvious that the people making such calls are those who could not circumvent the process and bend the rules as they wish. They are bitter and therefore turn the blind eye to the numerous contributions of the scheme in moulding the Nigerian youth, complementing government’s socio economic development efforts and steadily achieving the unity and integration of all Nigerians.
The NYSC was established in 1973 and it has stood the test of times even when other government agencies established after it could not survive; this scheme has remained relevant, growing in leaps and bounds. It has undergone different processes and injected new programs which have made it to continue to live up to the expectations of the founding fathers.
Every week the NYSC features various activities of the Corps in a weekly documentary tv program “NYSC Half hour” on NTA international. I take so much delight in watching the weekly documentary being an ex- corps member. I marvel at the number of emerging entrepreneurs and medium and small scale business enterprises which are established by serving and ex- Corps members being the gains of the skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development program.
The social and infrastructural development Corps members bring to the rural communities through their community development service. The mobility of skilled labour as the Scheme supplies teachers, doctors, paramedics and other professionals particularly in the educational and health sectors all over the country. Perhaps if not for NYSC, the rate of graduate unemployment would have been higher and some schools would have died natural death for lack of teachers by now .
Talking of unity and cultural integration, a good number of ex- Corps members who are of Yoruba or Igbo origin have made the north their homes after their service year. Many have established businesses and are fully integrated into the new states and communities. Many are holding enviable positions in government, politics and social aspects of the communities.
The inter- tribal marriages which resulted from participation in the NYSC are just too numerous not to talk of elimination of Ignorance and tribal prejudices while more light has been shed on our differences and similarities as Nigerians.
Let me seize this opportunity to call on the operators of the NYSC to continue to uphold the sanctity of the noble scheme irrespective of what detractors may be saying. The truth shall prevail.
Written by Ayomide Oludare, a Political and Social Analyst
