By Fatola Abdullahi

The writer finds this medium as an avenue to reveal to all prospective and serving youth corps members that "time" is not only an instrument for money-making but also a tool for selfless service capable of fetching you integrity and good reputation. Money without integrity or good reputability is vanity. Attempting to impact on your community utilizing your tight or free schedule is not bad, just keep in mind that the success of every attempt by human is only granted by the Almighty with hardwork.

The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC (the service year) is what some youth corpers describe as "a waste of time" which differs from the writer's perspective. There are enormous ways of making your service year fruitful for your immediate community and yourself. During the one (1) year service period, many observe and feel it's a waste of time because we have ignored the fact that the development of Nigeria lies within the jurisdiction of the youths only when all necessities are fulfilled by the government.

The government had contributed its part by establishing this scheme or programme (NYSC) with other beneficial activities attached even though many still thirst for their improvement on the monthly allowance increment at federal level, which really worths it, and as well the states who seize to pay as and when due.

Many would have pondered on the reasons behind the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) annually drafted and executed by multinational and home-based industries and companies. The answer is not far fetched, its simply giving out selflessly or assisting their immediate societies by positively impacting on life of the poor and average citizens.

Religious brethrens will also observe that the reasons behind the payment of "tithe" in christianity, "sadaqah and zakat" in islam are solely for worship purpose and to improve the life of the needy in our society. This is simply a similitude to the Community Development Service in NYSC which is only achievable and realizable when your intentions are aimed at those two reasons alone.

Thus, the National youth service period should be seen as a free avenue to freely earn ourselves the reward of community service participation by facilitating and conveying the needs of the immediate community you serve to the right sponsors with relentless efforts.

No doubt, many companies will turn your proposals down and challenges will also weigh you down, and if at the end of the day your intention becomes fruitless just remember that Man proposes and God disposes. Any youth corps member who attempts a personal CDS project and fails, has the privilege of actively participating in the group CDS by giving them opinions and supports needed to come up with a program or project to execute and always have in mind that if you work in group you will walk far rather than working alone.

Conclusively, with no iota of doubt, the one-year service period is valuable to all youth corpers if NYSC was not in existence. Nevertheless, with its existence we all need to endure the twelve (12) months period and make it memorable and value-added for yourself and your immediate community.

https://ibadanelite./2016/02/26/nysc-is-a-waste-of-time-an-ironic-view/