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NYSC: 48 YEARS OF LOYAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE NATION

Published

4 years ago

May 22, 2021

The National Youth Service Corps was established by Decree No.24 of 22nd May 1973, now an Act of the Parliament, quoted as NYSC CAP N84 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The Scheme year in, year out pulls together graduate Nigerian youths who are 30 years of age and below, with the objective of developing common ties among them, for the promotion of national unity and development.

Beyond that, the Scheme equally aims at instilling in Nigerian youths, a tradition of Industry; the spirit of patriotism, loyalty, discipline and self – reliance which is a gateway to financial freedom.

The Corps has continued to champion this cause, among others, employing four cardinal programmes namely : Orientation course; Primary Assignment; Community Development Service; Winding-up/Passing-out as the platforms to achieve the objective.

A critical assessment of the Scheme after 48 years indicates that it has remained a pivot of national unity and development; and has left indelible imprints in the proverbial sands of time, particularly in the spheres of Health, Education, Infrastructural development and Advocacies.

It is a truism that in most States of the Federation, primary and secondary school system is sustained by Corps Members, so much so that if their services are withdrawn, there will be system collapse.

Corps Members are found in the remotest parts of the villages, where even the natives dread to go, thus, imparting knowledge, catering to the health needs of the people, among so many other contributions.

There is no gainsaying the fact that in most rural communities, the only doctors the members have ever seen are Corps doctors, who function as chief medical director, and in most instances multi-task.

The community development projects of Corps Members ranging from civil construction works such as water borehole, well, bridges, culvert, classroom block to intangible projects such as free extra-mural lessons, campaigns against drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, dangerous driving among others have continued to deepen the relevance of the Scheme, making it a household name in Nigeria.

Talking about national integration, so many inter – tribal marriages have been contracted over the years, thereby building bonds and pulling down the walls of ethnic suspicions and stereotypes. Conversely, bridges of unity and lasting friendships have been erected.

The participation of Corps Members in the nation’s electoral process conveys some measure of legitimacy to the outcomes, given the fact that Corps Members always approach the national assignment with a great degree of patriotism and discipline.

The Scheme in 48 yesrs has continued to make direct positive impact on the lives of Corps Members, changing their orientation which is usually utopian while in school. It is a known fact that some cultists perpetually discard their membership of the clandestine group after life – changing encounter in the Orientation camp, which has discipline as its bedrock. Every NYSC Orientation Camp is strictly regimented.

Interestingly, in 2012, the Scheme introduced Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme, ( SAED) with a department dedicated to coordinate the activities. The skill programme starts during Orientation course, with in-camp training, progressing to post-camp training, after the Orientation course.

It goes without saying that SAED is one of the greatest initiatives of the Scheme that has continued to raise a crop of entrepreneurs over the years. The Scheme has not only provided them with the requisite platform to acquire or hone their skills, but equally links them with financial institutions such as Bank of Industry ( BOI) that grant credit facilities to them.

Consequently, so many ex-Corps Members today are entrepreneurs, running profitable businesses, mentoring and employing thousands of Nigerians.

However, just like every other organisation, the Corps has its challenges, most of which are extraneous to it. Many other challenges revolve around funds. Be that as it may, I give kudos to the Federal Government for shouldering the responsibility of funding the Scheme since inception, which has not been easy in view of other national needs competing for the scarce resources.

Nonetheless, there appears a silver lining. Recently, the NYSC Director-General, Brig Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim, who in two years of his administration has taken the Scheme a notch higher advocated the establishment of National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund NYSCTF). The scheme is expected to be funded should from a certain percentage of the assessable profits of companies registered in Nigeria, just like TETFUND. Doubtlessly, the trust fund will address the infrastructural deficits of the Scheme — the Orientation camps; skill centres, among others.

The fund should provide credit facilities or grants tto willing and qualified Corps Members who have acquired skills to establish their businesses.

Indeed, in 48 years, it can safely be posited that the Scheme is on course, having been fulfilling its mandate. It has been 48 years of loyal and dedicated service to the nation.

Emeka–Rems Mgbemena is an Abuja based public affairs analyst and writes via: remsony@yahoo.com

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Daughters of Dr. Charles Ononiwu, Chiamanda and Chiamaka, Launch Debut Books to Uplift Hearts Facing Life’s Struggles

Published

3 weeks ago

October 10, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

At just 18 and 20 years old, Chiamanda and Chiamaka Ononiwu — daughters of renowned Nigerian surgeon Dr. Charles Ononiwu — have achieved a remarkable milestone with the release of their debut inspirational books, Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls.

Their literary journey began six years ago, during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic. While the world was engulfed in fear and uncertainty, the then 13- and 15-year-old sisters turned inward, using writing as an outlet to process their emotions, express their faith, and reach out to others with messages of hope and resilience.

What began as a quiet act of creativity blossomed into two powerful books that now serve as beacons of light for readers navigating life’s storms.

Eighteen-year-old Chiamanda Ononiwu is the author of Do Not Be Afraid. A passionate Electrical Engineering student , she is also a proud alumna of Intellichild TLC and Valedictorian of Great Blessings School, Class of 2022.

In her book, she addresses the emotional challenges many young people face and draws from her personal faith to offer guidance and encouragement.

Her elder sister, Chiamaka Ononiwu, 20, is a final-year medical student at Babcock University in Nigeria. She penned Waterfalls, a heartfelt and deeply spiritual work she describes as divinely inspired. Chiamaka views her writing as a calling — a mission to uplift souls and bring hope to those struggling with life’s challenges.

“Personally, I would say it all started with the idea of inclusion, inspired by real human experiences,” Chiamaka shared. “We’ve had conversations with people who’ve gone through difficult situations — including issues and those stories helped shape what I write today.”

She added, “It’s all about encouraging people to face life with faith. We began this journey during a dark time in the world, and I felt called to create something that could offer comfort and hope — not just locally, but globally.”

The official book launch and signing ceremony took place on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and was attended by family, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers. It was a celebration of creativity, faith, and youthful brilliance, as the sisters presented their work to an inspired audience.

Speaking at the event, Chiamaka emphasized the core message of her book: “Waterfalls reminds readers that God is always watching over His people. He doesn’t bring fear — He brings peace, hope, and love. I want readers to find comfort and assurance in that truth.”

For Chiamanda, her book is a message to young people who may feel overwhelmed by life’s pressures: “Do Not Be Afraid is especially for youth navigating difficult times. No matter how hard life gets, you can always find strength and direction in God’s word.”

Writing came naturally to both sisters. Chiamaka recalled, “Even as a child, I loved writing short stories for my siblings. When the opportunity came to publish, I knew it was time to share my message with a wider audience.”

Despite their demanding academic paths, both young women balanced their studies with writing through perseverance and faith.

Chiamanda and Chiamaka are united by a shared dream — to inspire people across the world with their writing.

Chiamaka expressed Further; “Our biggest hope is that these books will reach people who need to know that God is real, that He’s always with them, and that through Him, anything is possible,” Chiamaka said.

With Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls, the Ononiwu sisters have not only created literary works — they’ve created lifelines. Their voices, grounded in faith and driven by purpose, remind readers everywhere that even in the darkest moments, God’s light never fades.

Their father, Dr. Charles Ononiwu — a distinguished surgeon and deeply devoted parent — also spoke at the event, sharing the journey from his perspective.

“For me, my number one priority has always been to care for children — not just medically, but also by encouraging them academically and in the basics of life,” he said.

He recounted a moving moment with Chiamanda, who approached him with the idea of sharing her story publicly to inspire others.

“She came to me and said she wanted to talk to her peers, to share how she had been comforted, and to help them see that everything would be okay,” he recalled. “As a father, my role was to guide her. I support both of them, help activate their strengths, and provide direction.”

Dr. Ononiwu made the decision to fund the publication of their books himself, believing in the power of their message.

“I told them, ‘You have something the world needs. You can make an impact in the lives of others,’” he said. “I believe every child has a gift. It is our responsibility as parents not to dismiss them, but to help them discover and nurture their talents.”

He encouraged all parents to support their children’s creative pursuits, noting, “Every person has something special inside them — no one is without talent. It’s just a matter of looking inward, discovering that gift, and sharing it with the world.”

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