The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a program set up by the Nigerian government during the military regime to involve Nigerian graduates in nation-building and the development of the country. Right now there is no military conscription in Nigeria, but since 1973 graduates of universities and later polytechnics have been required to take part in the National Youth Service Corps program for one year.
The National Youth Service Corps program was created on the 22nd of May 1973, in other words, NYSC turns 50 today.
The Federal Government has commended the contributions of the National Youth Service Corps in diverse areas to the overall development of the country. The Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare stated this in his address at the Opening Ceremony of the 2023 NYSC Annual Management Conference with the theme; “Optimizing the Operations of NYSC at 50 for National Development”, held in Abuja. He further stated that the scheme in almost fifty years of its existence has remained a strong tool for socio-economic development and national unity.
During his statement, he also spoke about the need for reforms in NYSC to enhance improved service delivery and also meet the challenges of the 21st-century youths as potential entrepreneurs. He also added that the government would continue to preserve the scheme for its roles in national development and youth empowerment.
Mr. Dare while commending the past managers of the scheme for introducing the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Program into its Orientation Course Program which has produced hundreds of youth entrepreneurs also commended the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, and other stakeholders across the country for their support towards the actualization of the proposed NYSC Trust Fund. He tasked the conference participants to “take the NYSC in the direction of another trajectory of progress, digital revolution, supporting and molding the youths within one year to be better citizens for national development and national unity”.
For his part, the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General YD Ahmed said since its inception in 1973, the NYSC has remained a reference point for other organizations owing to its vital roles in the promotion of national unity and integration, peaceful co-existence among Nigerians of diverse socio-cultural backgrounds and free movement of labor.
Ahmed disclosed that despite its impressive achievements, the Scheme is still battling some operational challenges such as dilapidated facilities at the Orientation Camps, inadequate Corps Lodges, lack of befitting office accommodation in some states, and inadequate operational vehicles among others.
He, therefore, appealed to critical stakeholders to discharge their statutory responsibilities to the Scheme and also empower a large number of Corps Members with start-up capital for self-reliance after going through the NYSC entrepreneurial training.
The DG stated further that the proposed NYSC Trust Fund, when actualized, would make the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development program more functional, through the provision of training facilities and start-up capital to finance the businesses of Corps Entrepreneurs.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Alhaji Muhammed Musa Bello commended the various innovations and positive strides made by the Scheme to date.
The Minister, whose address was read by the Mandate Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Hajia Hadiza Mohammed Kabir disclosed that Corps Members posted to the FCT have contributed immensely to the development of schools, hospitals, rural infrastructure, culture and tourism, sports, conduct of elections, population census, job creation among others. “The Nation surely looks up to the Scheme to continue to provide the required manpower for its accelerated development”, he said.