Many Nigerians question the necessity of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in this present age, arguing that the scheme has long outlived its purpose, which was originally adopted against the background of the 1967 civil war by the visionary General Yakubu Gowon to aid national integration vis-a-vis inter-ethnic relations. The idea behind this argument is the continuous state of discord which has plagued the nation even after the NYSC was created forty- four years ago. This year (2014) the state of discord and disunity reach a point that aroused wide spread panic and fears over a possible disintegration of Lord Lugard’s 1914 algalamation (ironically, Lugard’s own Prediction) that brought Nigeria into existence (if Nigeria disintegrates Nigerian fails to exist). This should be an issue every true Nigerian, patriotic and with a nationalist spirit should be concerned about.
Fortunately we have not witnessed another war, we have survived the years as a country, but the dilemma with the National Youth Service Corps is, why is it still in existence if forty-four years later it has not solved the issue of disunity? On another though there may be disunity but no war arising from the crises, so has the NYSC failed in itself? Hence, should it be scraped or continued? I vote for continued, for various reasons.
1. The one year of service to the nation should under normal circumstance spring up the spirit of nationalism, patriotism and love for country and other Nigerians regardless of religion or tribe.
2. It is a way to keep young graduates occupied while they get experience which most companies demand upon employment. The financial packages which is insufficient also helps keep young graduates from becoming nuisances to the society and country.
3. The skill acquisition programme is a good way to equip young Nigerian graduate outside the scope of their degrees, making them more veritable to the society, their families and themselves.
4. The three weeks orientation in which the values of the service corps, especially discipline is inculcated into Nigerian graduates is a good way to create model citizens
One problem with Nigeria is the neglect for philosophy. By adjusting the goals and modus operandi of the NYSC and working on problems and challenges encountered by corps member, its potency can be felt on a wider scale. The biggest challenge one would face as a corps member is accommodation. The ‘corpers lodges’ I have heard of and the few I have been opportuned to see, are an eye sore and unbefitting for decent human existence (even prisoners would deserve better). Sadly a lot of corps members use their federal stipend to pay for accommodation. Sadly also most states do not do anything to alleviate these problems a few do not even pay corps members any stipend, for yet a few the camps are worse than prison yards. Hence, corps members do not enjoy the benefits of the national service. This has caused a lack of respect for the scheme even by corps members and disregard for nation where patriotism should be gained. States should be more proactive in the welfare of corps members since even though they serve the nation, the state enjoys such services (bearing in mind that a person that serves without comfort will serve grudgingly, not giving his best).
But as far as diligent service goes, as a graduate with great potentials one would not want to underemployed or underpaid. As a youth corps member, serving the nation one would especially expect that his/her abilities would be put to good use in building the nation. Certain states have dire needs which can be filled by corps members, while giving them the much needed experience that would be useful to carry on in life. It is admirable that during the three weeks in orientation camps skill acquisition is required, however this is not sufficient in all cases in the making efficient and prosperous Nigerian youth. A state with natural endowments which remain untapped, and is fortunate to receive graduates of geology, industrial chemistry, bio-chemistry etc. as corps members and sends them all to the class room has wasted good intellect and talent and underused their potentials also denying itself of tapping the various resources that corps members have to offer and lost out of a good bargain for development.
With good supervision and mentorship from professionals Corps members can be used to design, build and renovate structures like hospitals, schools (not just as CDS projects) roads, help formulate and implement policies, raise industries commensurate with the states needs and resources and not just as teachers.
Spreading corps members through the society, into all fields of economy will create greater human development and integration especially when they are satisfactorily absorbed not into the society alone but into the economy based on their skills and amply supervised to generate maximum output and productivity. This should be the new focus of the Nigerian Youth Service Corps, not just for peace but for national development.
If truly our leaders today believe that the youth are leaders of tomorrow, then greater attention should be paid to the youths who serve the nation giving more value to the National Youth Service Corps.

Have u read d mission and vision statement of d Nigerain Police force?? To join police go hungry u, but wat dey potray is ironical.
Same wit ur essay above, irony! An avenue for immorality, a year wasted wif nofin innovative to write home about.
Do u knw d mindset of majority of undergraduates in final year warming up 4 service?? If thought do ve smells u'd be closin ur nose wit hanky.
It shud be scraped! Or made voluntary not mandatory.

lariostylz:
Many Nigerians question the necessity of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in this present age, arguing that the scheme has long outlived its purpose, which was originally adopted against the background of the 1967 civil war by the visionary General Yakubu Gowon to aid national integration vis-a-vis inter-ethnic relations. The idea behind this argument is the continuous state of discord which has plagued the nation even after the NYSC was created forty- four years ago. This year (2014) the state of discord and disunity reach a point that aroused wide spread panic and fears over a possible disintegration of Lord Lugard’s 1914 algalamation (ironically, Lugard’s own Prediction) that brought Nigeria into existence (if Nigeria disintegrates Nigerian fails to exist). This should be an issue every true Nigerian, patriotic and with a nationalist spirit should be concerned about.
Fortunately we have not witnessed another war, we have survived the years as a country, but the dilemma with the National Youth Service Corps is, why is it still in existence if forty-four years later it has not solved the issue of disunity? On another though there may be disunity but no war arising from the crises, so has the NYSC failed in itself? Hence, should it be scraped or continued? I vote for continued, for various reasons.
1. The one year of service to the nation should under normal circumstance spring up the spirit of nationalism, patriotism and love for country and other Nigerians regardless of religion or tribe.
2. It is a way to keep young graduates occupied while they get experience which most companies demand upon employment. The financial packages which is insufficient also helps keep young graduates from becoming nuisances to the society and country.
3. The skill acquisition programme is a good way to equip young Nigerian graduate outside the scope of their degrees, making them more veritable to the society, their families and themselves.
4. The three weeks orientation in which the values of the service corps, especially discipline is inculcated into Nigerian graduates is a good way to create model citizens
One problem with Nigeria is the neglect for philosophy. By adjusting the goals and modus operandi of the NYSC and working on problems and challenges encountered by corps member, its potency can be felt on a wider scale. The biggest challenge one would face as a corps member is accommodation. The ‘corpers lodges’ I have heard of and the few I have been opportuned to see, are an eye sore and unbefitting for decent human existence (even prisoners would deserve better). Sadly a lot of corps members use their federal stipend to pay for accommodation. Sadly also most states do not do anything to alleviate these problems a few do not even pay corps members any stipend, for yet a few the camps are worse than prison yards. Hence, corps members do not enjoy the benefits of the national service. This has caused a lack of respect for the scheme even by corps members and disregard for nation where patriotism should be gained. States should be more proactive in the welfare of corps members since even though they serve the nation, the state enjoys such services (bearing in mind that a person that serves without comfort will serve grudgingly, not giving his best).
But as far as diligent service goes, as a graduate with great potentials one would not want to underemployed or underpaid. As a youth corps member, serving the nation one would especially expect that his/her abilities would be put to good use in building the nation. Certain states have dire needs which can be filled by corps members, while giving them the much needed experience that would be useful to carry on in life. It is admirable that during the three weeks in orientation camps skill acquisition is required, however this is not sufficient in all cases in the making efficient and prosperous Nigerian youth. A state with natural endowments which remain untapped, and is fortunate to receive graduates of geology, industrial chemistry, bio-chemistry etc. as corps members and sends them all to the class room has wasted good intellect and talent and underused their potentials also denying itself of tapping the various resources that corps members have to offer and lost out of a good bargain for development.
With good supervision and mentorship from professionals Corps members can be used to design, build and renovate structures like hospitals, schools (not just as CDS projects) roads, help formulate and implement policies, raise industries commensurate with the states needs and resources and not just as teachers.
Spreading corps members through the society, into all fields of economy will create greater human development and integration especially when they are satisfactorily absorbed not into the society alone but into the economy based on their skills and amply supervised to generate maximum output and productivity. This should be the new focus of the Nigerian Youth Service Corps, not just for peace but for national development.
If truly our leaders today believe that the youth are leaders of tomorrow, then greater attention should be paid to the youths who serve the nation giving more value to the National Youth Service Corps.

All this one na story it should be scrapped period!

marvelling:


All this one na story it should be scrapped period!

I tire 4 una, is dat y u quoted evrtin?

lariostylz:
Hence, should it be scraped or continued? I vote for continued, for various reasons.
1.The one year of service to the nation should under normal circumstance spring up the spirit of nationalism, patriotism and love for country and other Nigerians regardless of religion or tribe.

The same glaringly false mantra being repeated. NYSC has never been shown to make one patriotic neither has it been shown to make Nigerians love each other regardless of tribe.

A few minutes spent on the politics section (reading posts of people who have gone through NYSC) will reveal how much divided Nigerians are along tribal lines and how wrong you are

I'm patriotic not because of NYSC and I know no one who is because of NYSC.

2.It is a way to keep young graduates occupied while they get experience which most companies demand upon employment. The financial packages which is insufficient also helps keep young graduates from becoming nuisances to the society and country.

The experiences gotten through NYSC are most times irrelevant. I for one studied computer engineering and was posted to a primary school, yes, primary school to teach.

Except for medical students and those trained to be teachers, your point is moot.

3.The skill acquisition programme is a good way to equip young Nigerian graduate outside the scope of their degrees, making them more veritable to the society, their families and themselves.

The skill acquisition programme can be done independent of NYSC. As an example, it can be introduced into curriculum of tertiary institutions just as courses on entrepreneurship were introduced years back.

The three weeks orientation in which the values of the service corps, especially discipline is inculcated into Nigerian graduates is a good way to create model citizens

Which discipline are you talking about? Like sleeping on bedbug infested beds, getting bitten by mosquitoes bigger than the average cockroach, getting infections from toilets?

One problem with Nigeria is the neglect for philosophy. By adjusting the goals and modus operandi of the NYSC and working on problems and challenges encountered by corps member, its potency can be felt on a wider scale. The biggest challenge one would face as a corps member is accommodation. The ‘corpers lodges’ I have heard of and the few I have been opportuned to see, are an eye sore and unbefitting for decent human existence (even prisoners would deserve better). Sadly a lot of corps members use their federal stipend to pay for accommodation. Sadly also most states do not do anything to alleviate these problems a few do not even pay corps members any stipend, for yet a few the camps are worse than prison yards. Hence, corps members do not enjoy the benefits of the national service. This has caused a lack of respect for the scheme even by corps members and disregard for nation where patriotism should be gained. States should be more proactive in the welfare of corps members since even though they serve the nation, the state enjoys such services (bearing in mind that a person that serves without comfort will serve grudgingly, not giving his best).
But as far as diligent service goes, as a graduate with great potentials one would not want to underemployed or underpaid. As a youth corps member, serving the nation one would especially expect that his/her abilities would be put to good use in building the nation. Certain states have dire needs which can be filled by corps members, while giving them the much needed experience that would be useful to carry on in life. It is admirable that during the three weeks in orientation camps skill acquisition is required, however this is not sufficient in all cases in the making efficient and prosperous Nigerian youth. A state with natural endowments which remain untapped, and is fortunate to receive graduates of geology, industrial chemistry, bio-chemistry etc. as corps members and sends them all to the class room has wasted good intellect and talent and underused their potentials also denying itself of tapping the various resources that corps members have to offer and lost out of a good bargain for development.
With good supervision and mentorship from professionals Corps members can be used to design, build and renovate structures like hospitals, schools (not just as CDS projects) roads, help formulate and implement policies, raise industries commensurate with the states needs and resources and not just as teachers.
Spreading corps members through the society, into all fields of economy will create greater human development and integration especially when they are satisfactorily absorbed not into the society alone but into the economy based on their skills and amply supervised to generate maximum output and productivity. This should be the new focus of the Nigerian Youth Service Corps, not just for peace but for national development.
If truly our leaders today believe that the youth are leaders of tomorrow, then greater attention should be paid to the youths who serve the nation giving more value to the National Youth Service Corps.

We all know nothing you wrote up there will be done. The best thing to do is to have it scrapped.