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

Published

5 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Federation, primary and secondary school system is sustained by Corps Members, so much so that if their services are withdrawn, there will be system collapse.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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Featured

CELEBRATING A CENTURY-OLD CIVIL AVIATION SECTOR TRAJECTORY IN NIGERIA

Published

5 days ago

December 1, 2025

The Gleamer

This week, millions of Nigerians and others across the globe will join the Ministry of Aviation and Space Development under the irrepressible leadership of the Honourable Minister, Festus Keyamo(SAN),and all the notable Aviation sector stakeholders in and outside the country,in celebrating a century of Nigeria’s civil aviation history.

There is no doubt that under the present leadership of the Honourable Minister and within the short spell of time in his stewardship,he has consciously and intentionally embarked on a “silent revolution” for the industry with very veritable and laudable landmarks that have consistently grown the industry.

Some of these spirited efforts for instance have consequently led to trust restoration amongst international lessors, financier,any global partners.Of note also is assidiously working for the full domestication and implementation of the “Cape Town Convention Agreement” ,which gives Airlines access to modern fleets of competitive rates as well as enforcement of IDERA(Irrevocable Deregulation and Export Request Authorization).

Having well applauded these vital contemporary initiatives,it will also be germane to cast our minds in retrospect by taking a peep into our history over several decades to recognise some of the notable forebears in the industry whose impressionabl efforts cannot be overlooked,as they took the impetuous initiatives of breaking the ice at the nascent stage.
It will aptly corroborate the truism which says that… ” a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step”.

The above is vividly captured from a tribute by the First Republic Minister of Aviation Chief Mbazulike Amaechi at the funeral of late Igwe of Oba,HRH Peter Ezenwa(MFR) in 2018.
It states inter alia…”One significant thing I will say many people didn’t know is that the first indigenous airline that was to run in Nigeria was known as “STANDARD AIRLINE”.It was founded in 1966 by a company formed by Igwe Peter Ezenwa from Oba,and had on board,John Nwankwu from Abagana,Edward Ebo from Ezinifitte,(all from Anambra state),John Anyaehie from Nkwerre in Imo state,and lastly my very self Mbazulike Amaechi.
The five of us later acquired two brand new aircrafts,and had four pilots,namely;Unachievable,John Emma Ngwu and Felix Offor,who was to be the General Manager of the airline.
But just about the time for the take-off the crisis of the military takeover erupted in the North as the planes were on their way for delivery to us.In fact the bank handling the transaction was to allow the planes to be flown from the USA,but the news of the war broke out in 1967,the insurance company cabled for the cancellation of the deal as they will not be able to cover the risk cost of aircrafts being flown into war zone.
So,we asked the manufacturers to take the two aircrafts back to their country and hold on for six months with the hope of that the war will end within the requested time frame,but the war didn’t end as thought.We consequently asked for refund and they deducted some money and refunded the balance which was deposited at the London branch of African Continental Bank(ACB).

When the government took over the operations of ACB,we still hoped for the refund but unfortunately were disappointed that the Federal government took over the whole money and we lost everything.”

Further in line with our historical perspective,it will also be pertinent some of the later years reformists in the likes of Engr Onyereri and Harold Demuren who advertently sponsored some far reaching regulations that eventually steered the industry towards greater autonomy with the passage of the 2005 Civil Aviation Act,which I was also a prime participant of in my capacity as an Aviation sub chair in then House of Representatives.

As we mark this great century milestone,and with the clear evidential pathway set out by the current managers of the industry under the indomitable leadership of Honourable Minister, I do not see the sky posing any limitations as they say,but rather availing new vistas of limitless growth opportunities.

CONGRATULATIONS.

Hon Chidi Nwogu
Former member House of Representatives & presently Governing Council member
,African Aviation and Aerospace University,Abuja.

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