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Things to know about the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program
This is a year all graduates in Nigeria are made to participate in.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a one year program which was established for college graduates under 30 which involves a 3-week orientation camp before deployment to places where they will work for the duration of 11 months.
The National Youth Service Corps Year comprises of 4 main segments in which every Corps Members must satisfactorily participate before they are qualified to be issued a certificate of National Service.
NYSC was established after the Nigerian civil war in the early 70s by the Federal Government under General Yakubu Gowon’s leadership. It was started as a means of reconstructing, rebuilding and reconciling the country after it experienced its Civil War.
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Its establishment was by decree No.24 of 22nd May 1973 which stated that the NYSC is being established “with a view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity”.
How does the NYSC year start?
The NYSC year commences with a 3-week long orientation course and it is compulsory for all graduates mobilized for the program.
A National Youth Service Corps year starts with a 3 weeks orientation course which takes place in camps across the country and it is compulsory for all who are mobilised for national service.
The orientation course involves physical training, lectures on the people and tradition of the host State, professional lectures and skill acquisition training.
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What happens after orientation camp?
As the orientation camp draws to an end, Corp members are posted to places where they will be working for the rest of the duration of the NYSC year which is called the place of primary assignment.
These postings take into consideration the educational qualification of Corp members eg medicine graduates are sent into the healthcare sector.
What is Community Development Service (CDS)?
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The Community Development Service (CDS) is a program which runs concurrently for the duration of the NYSC year. One day in a week or sometimes more, Corp members are expected to meet and work towards fulfilling projects in their host communities that will positively impact its inhabitants.
These are projects set to solve identified problems in the host communities like HIV sensitization, building of bridges, adult literacy campaign etc.
What happens once the 1-year duration is fulfilled?
By the end of the year, corps members gather at their respective local governments of their host communities for an assessment and also debriefing about the service year. Also, places of primary assignment provide their Corp members with a letter of discharge which are in turn presented to Local Government Inspectors.
Those who have successfully abided by the rules and the participated in the programs activities satisfactorily are handed certificates of National Service after the passing out ceremony.
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