My 'NYSC' Tale!

Hi,

I'm contributing a story to commemorate the anniversary of the National Youth Service Corp [NYSC] in the next edition of Momentum magazine: a CSR-oriented publication. [www.momentumagazine.net]

Please leave a quote [to be published if you don't mind] on your opinion on the NYSC.

Also add: Name, Occupation, Year of Service and the state you were posted to. More importantly, please email [if you can or we can arrange to pick them up] your NYSC photograph...[wink, wink]

This should be FUN. You may also use this medium to suggest a way forward for the scheme or its outright scrap.

Regards!!!



BACKGROUND:
So much has been said about the NYSC since its inception in 1975. Last week, I co-anchored a LIVE TV show [Rubbin' Minds on Channels] where we discussed the issue. SO many calls came in from different parts of Nigeria [Warri, Abuja, Cross River, PH and of course Lagos] praising the scheme and saying how much it emphasizes national unity, integration blah, blah and blah.

Chude, my colleague who was against the scheme before the show was almost forced to pitch his tent with the opposing camp. All these people talked very briefly about the structure of the scheme and its execution every year.

I wonder what happens to being posted to remote areas in Nigeria with no electricity and decent accommodation; the politics of 'working' your posting to Lagos, Abuja or PH. LAck of materials or bed spaces or even access to the internet all through the three-week orientation camp period...

National Unity AGAINST endangering lives...
Integration AGAINST a waste of time, effort and resources...
A laudable project OR another avenue to enrich a few individuals?

NB: Shout-outs to Mr. Ani [The famous Lagos State Coordinator!]