NYSC as a tool for national integration

John Joshua-Akanji

AFTER  a civil war that left millions dead, others wounded, creating social, political  upheaval,  economic  deprivation and trauma, the establishment of the NYSC Scheme healed  some pains of the war through national integration. Years after it was established,  the reasons  it was envisioned have become much more germane and relevant. The current state  of insecurity  had sparked a debate on the whether  the scheme was still relevant, with some critics even calling for it to be scrapped.  Their major source of concern is the insecurity  which had resulted in the death of youth corpers, while scores have been  kidnapped. Emotions have  understandably boiled over  on the death of promising youth. While  the incidents are  unfortunate and decisive action plans  are needed to  forestall a recurrence, this should not derail a very laudable idea. Prior to the setting up of the  NYSC scheme,  most Nigerian youth were naive, uninformed,  strangers to the culture,  values, ethos of other parts of the country. Even after graduating from  the  university or other tertiary  institutions,  most youth  had little or no interest in nation-building and went about with old stereotypes about  fellow country(wo)men from other ethnic  groups.

Ravaged by the vicissitudes of the civil war,  the youth who emerged from a  divided  nation  needed healing, hence  General Yakubu Gowon’s noble  scheme of  1973  cannot be negated by  calls for it scrapping. The vision of making the  scheme  an instrument  for national  integration,  social mobilisation, and community development has become more compelling  than when it was envisioned. While various changes had taken place over the years, the last two years under the leadership  of the urbane, innovative, intellectual and resourceful  Brigadier General  Shuaibu  Ibrahim have witnessed  unprecedented developments that should  douse any doubt about the  relevance of the  scheme. One, there is the promotion of the ethos of unity and answers to national identity questions. The main reason behind the scheme was to address  some of the fundamentals issues that resulted  to the civil war and which are still Prevailing  today.

One of  Nigerian national questions as it concerns  ethnic,   class stratification is taken care of by the NSYC. In the orientation  camp,  there’s  no special treatment  for any ethnic group,  status of corpers,  religious or  segregation  or special treatment. Corpers see themselves  as one, united Nigerians.  The NYSC is  being used as  the best instrument of change since youth play a vital role in promoting unity and integration among  the different ethnic-nationalities.  NYSC has also helped in restoring a sense of pride and  identity to other ethnic minorities  who hitherto  would have been  isolated due to lack of contacts with youths from other parts of the country. Two, the NYSC contributes to the welfare of the society. The  Youth corpers are mobilised to serve in  states, villages and cities that are completely different from theirs. This makes  them  to imbibe the culture of their host communities as they work hard to impart knowledge,  leaving enduring legacy of national integration.  The impact of corpers in community development projects such as  Roads, hospitals, boreholes,  electricity,  market, agriculture, education, communication,  healthcare,  technology is far too outstanding  to be wasted  and  sacrificed  on the altar of challenges that affect  every Nigerian.

Then there is the issue of discipline and leadership  culture among the youth. One  of the  reasons the  NYSC was introduced by General Gowon was to instill leadership qualities in the  already educated and enlightened youth.  In his words, no right-thinking country  questions why it is paramount to impart discipline to its educated youth if such nation desire to achieve national integration. Fourth, there is the issue of stopping inter-ethnic and religious strife. As a  multi-cultural and religious country,  the  NYSC  bridges the religious and ethnic diversities which had  divided the country over the years. The discipline, military  drills,  doctrines and National  values inculcated  into the corpers remain the pre-conditions in the scheme and  explains why the government semi-militarised it so that youth are better  prepared for life after university education. So, the continuous co-existence of people with different religious and ethnic backgrounds can be fostered  if the NYSC is better funded with human and capital resources.

Under Brigadier  Ibrahim Shuaibu,  the scheme has undergone incredible  transformation as corpers are better paid, have become better trained,  more productive,  creative and inclined to innovations, enterprenuership and creation of opportunities  and jobs. If the memento  is sustained  with institutional  backing for a Trust Fund scheme, then  the NYSC  will become a veritable  tool for the transformation of  Nigeria. The NYSC has  undoubtedly surpassed  the vision  of the visionary initiator. Young Nigerians whose lives have been transformed after the one-year compulsory service to their fatherland will continue to  equally  transform  other lives. The agitation  by parents for the redeployment of  corpers  to their  home state or region  is  a recurring issue  that could  negate the core essence of the scheme which is national integration. Despite the barrage  of such requests,  the  current DG has maintained near zero tolerance  for them.

In fact, his  unyielding attitude has sustained the posting method which is a bridge building strategy  for all  generations because of the multiple effects on the nation. From Umunna to Damare,  Iyana Ipaja to Kubwa, Zungeru to  Ogbomosho,  Zaria to  Ajali , Duste to Nembe City, Ijebu Igbo to Amasiri, Ugheli to  Gboko, Isheyin to IkomAbasi, the echoes of friendship that have been  built, marriages  consummated, businesses  established,  roads and hospitals  built,  children educated , villages powered and  innovation  legacy  projects by corpers cannot be eroded. The NYSC scheme  is  establishing long lasting friendship,  building inter ethnic marriages,  forming political alliances,  creating business partnerships, inculcating national  values, unity, understanding among Nigerian youth despite our much propagated  cultural diversities. The continuous existence of the scheme is crucial to building a strong,  united, prosperous nation where peace, love and justice shall reign.

• Joshua-Akanji, an aide to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Development writes in from Lagos.

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