In marking the 48th anniversary of the NYSC in Kogi state recently, OYIBO SALIHU writes on how the scheme brought Nigerian youths together under what was referred to as ‘Unity Pot’ at the state Permanent Orientation Camp.
The establishment of the scheme was borne out of the reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation drive after the Nigerian Civil War that lasted almost three years.
Forty eight years after, the scheme seems to have achieved its objective of promoting national unity going by several commentaries.
Celebrating its 48 years anniversary in a grand style recently in all the camps across the country, corps members showcased their diverse cultures through a cultural carnival organised by the management of the scheme.
In Kogi state, the Asaya NYSC camp located in Kabba Bunu local government area was agog as the anniversary was spectacular, with colourful attires and display of dances, singing, bringing together corps members from different ethnic backgrounds in solidarity with Nigeria.
The happiness and love on the faces of the corps members clearly show that the scheme is a veritable tool that had promoted the unity of Nigeria.Also, corps members who came from foreign countries to serve their fatherland were not left out as they displayed their cultural heritage with enthusiasm.
Nationals of Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Ibibio, Itshekiri youths and others who participated in the scheme were colourfully dressed, sang and danced in a procession.
The state coordinator NYSC, Mr Taufik Olayiwola Lasaki and other staff of the organisation were seated to watch the cultural display and handing over of ‘Unity Pot’ from one ethnic group to another as a sign of strength, agility, vigor and doggedness of the youths in nation building.
Commendations for the scheme
Speaking at the occasion, the state coordinator appreciated the director general, Brig General Shuaibu Ibrahim, for thinking ahead of time. He described him as a man with high quality leadership.
According to him, It was marvelous the way the DG handled the NYSC during the covid-19 pandemic and the new innovation of cultural carnival for corps members to showcase the unity of Nigeria at the 48 anniversary of the scheme.
Expressing his satisfaction, Lasaki said, “We are having our carnival today. It is a unique occasion as NYSC is celebrating Nigeria because we hold the country in high esteem. It is very natural for NYSC to celebrate our great country.
“That is why there are several banners with different slogans showing the oneness and unity among all the diverse ethnic groups in this orientation camp. Nothing should divide us. You have seen the cultural display very colourful.
“Here you can see the Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and other ethnic groups from the east, the west and the north dancing together to showcase their rich culture and that is the essence of the NYSC.
“As Nigerians, we should shun anything that can divide us; together we can be strong to chat ways forward for the development of the nation.
“NYSC is like a melting point which involves everybody. You can see the youths vibrantly displaying their rich culture to other ethnic groups to watch as a symbol of unity of this country.”
Lasaki who pointed out that the scheme regardless of challenges it faces over the years has made significant impact in hard-to-reach communities across the country within its 48 years of existence, however noted that the impact of the scheme on youths and Nigeria had helped to empower many through skills acquisition programmes that has made many of them self-reliant and employment of labour.
“Without being modest, NYSC has made a lot of impact within this 48 years of its existence, especially in the areas of enhancing peaceful coexistence, national unity and integration. We would continue to sustain youth reformation to mould them with the right kind of national spirit and patriotism.
“In fact, our doctors, teachers and other corps members of different disciplines have been to several communities across the country to help impact knowledge and improve the health status of rural communities, a feat that only the NYSC scheme renders in this country.”
The Kogi state coordinator who objected to the call for scrapping the scheme said, “The scheme should not be scraped because this is the only organisation that encompasses everything called Nigeria. In the camp, you can see youths that converge here from across the country and those that came from outside the country to serve their fatherland.
“They don’t know themselves yet because of the unity of the country, they agreed to stay together irrespective of religion and tribe. NYSC is for integration and it is for national development, NYSC stands for the promotion of unity and such organisation should not be scrapped for any reason because it depicts the unity of the country.”
Scheme as symbol of togethernessMrs Ugbomah Nseobong, the head of socials, NYSC in the state said that the scheme at 48 ‘Unity March’ is a new innovation introduced to mark its years of existence to showcase achievements as a unifying factor in the common and collective strength of the youth.
“The scheme symbolises our togetherness though tongue, tribe and creed may differ; we rather stand solidly in brotherhood.Today we have witnessed a ‘Unity Pot’ portraying the strength, agility, vigor and doggedness of the youths in nation- building as they coexist in peace and tranquility,” she said.
She pointed out that the youths irrespective of fields of endeavours are trained on digital agro-allied, photography, customising, culture and tourism, cosmetology, ICT, fashion and design, among others through Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, adding that the Orientation Course programme has successfully imbibed in the youths the spirit of oneness and hard- work over the years.
From the corps membersCorps members who spoke to Blueprint at Asaya NYSC camp said they would wish to serve again, if given the opportunity, in view of the orientation and the skill acquisition knowledge the scheme impacted on them.
Mr Gideon Ejeh a youth corps member from Edo State and a graduate of Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma said the NYSC has given him and others the opportunity to relate with other tribes across the country.
He pointed out that any move to scrape the scheme means to ridicule the vision and mission of the founding fathers. He said that Nigerian youth would stand firm to defend such plan at a time when the country need more tools that can foster unity among the people.
“Fourty eight years of NYSC should be celebrated instead of nursing the thought of scraping the scheme because this is the only platform for now that brings Nigerian youths together for the purpose of fostering unity in the country.
“The scheme is also promoting rural development through the community development programme of NYSC. if you visit many communities today you would see the presence of NYSC there as a result of the micro projects the corps members have selflessly executed to assist rural dwellers.
“The NYSC has also been providing cheap labour for many organisations, corps members are being used for elections, census and other national activities and we must recognise that it has contributed a lot in the development of Nigeria and as such the scheme should be encourage rather than scraped.”
Also lending her voice to the significance of the scheme, a female corps member and a graduate of Aston University in the UK, Miss Ladega Oluwatofunmi Temilade, said she had never been to Kogi state all her life, but the scheme brought her where she met so many Nigerian youth of different backgrounds in the camp.
According to her, “By the time I complete my one year national service, I would learn more about the state and Nigeria as a country in terms of cultural diversity and ways of living.
“NYSC scheme should not be scraped because many Nigerians living or born abroad have been looking forward to the day they would come home to serve their fatherland.
“And in the camp I have seen a lot of marvelous things that even money cannot buy. When many countries are struggling to copy from Nigeria how they manage this scheme for over four decades, then someone is muting the idea of scraping it, no way that agitation should be killed immediately at the National Assembly in the interest of the country.
“The impact of the scheme is amazing and second to none. I have searched and researched, there is no organisation in Nigeria that can mobilise youths especially graduates for that matter to come together for a period of one year.
Also commenting, Ibrahim Abdulsamad Mamman from Zamfara state said the 48th anniversary celebration of NYSC has shown Nigerians that together we can achieve a lot for this country.
“I came to Kogi state all the way from Zamfara state and today I am able to see many new things for myself. Even some delicacy that we don’t have in my state, I was able to eat such foods.
“We should continue to tolerate one another; Nigeria is great country with great people. What we need now is cooperation, unity of purpose to move the country forward in terms of development.
“The issue of scraping NYSC to me is tales by moonlight. I don’t think a right-thinking person can wake up and start canvassing the scraping of a scheme that is the only joy bequeathed to Nigerian youth by the founding fathers of the National Youth Service Corps.
“I am begging and appealing to the National Assembly to as a matter of urgency throw away the bill; it should not be allowed to reach Third Reading. Imagine, the sponsor of the bill is among the earliest Nigerians that have benefited from the NYSC scheme. It should be sustained in the interest of the youth.”
