2014 Batch A: The Task Ahead

By ERUKUBAMI OMOLADE

BEING a graduate is one of the greatest joy and achievement of every youth in Nigeria and the world at large. But the icey on the cake is when these youths give back to their father-land by serving the nation under the umbrella scheme of the national Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Now, another season of mobilization has come as camp will be opened for 2014 batch ‘A’ Corps members in the next five days. A journey is made easier when the detail of the route is given. Based on this, an over view of the National Youth Service needs to be uncovered for the benefit of 2014 batch ‘A’ prospective corps members.

The NYSC scheme comprises of four (4) main segments which every corps member must satisfactorily participate before he/she is qualified to be issued a certificate of National Service.
The service year therefore comprises of: The orientation Course, Primary Assignment, Community Development Service, and winding-Up which is also known as Passing Out.

Lets take a journey into this segment by critically anelyzing these four categories and their objective behind each sphere that must be undertaken by every corps members
ORIENTATION COURSE
The orientation course is a wonderful experience due to the nature of the scheme and all the activities therein.

A National Youth Service Corps year starts with a 3 weeks orientation course and it is compulsory for all Nigeria graduates who are not above thirty year to be mobilized for national service. The course last for three (3) weeks and is designed to achieve the following objectives:

To give corps members a better understanding of the objectives of the NYSC scheme and enable them internalize its ideals.

To acquaint prospective corps members with the environment’s political, cultural, social and economic setting.

To prepare corps members for their particular roles in the scheme.

To equip them with practical social and leadership skills that will enable them meet the challenges of the service year ahead.

To inculcate in the corps members the spirit of national consciousness as a basic ingredient in nation building..

Instilling discipline in the mind of youths is also one of the major objectives and giving them adequate physical and mental training as well.

Never must we forget that, another major goal is to imbibe in them, the spirit of collective responsibility.

In order to achieve the above objectives, the orientation course opens with a swearing-in/opening ceremony presided over by the executive Governor of the state/FCT Minister. The oath of Allegiance and the National pledge are administered by the Chief Judge of the state/FCT.

The orientation course content involves physical training, drills, lectures on the people and tradition of the host state, professional lectures for corps health personnel’s lawyers, teachers and skill acquisition training etc.

Corps members participate in social activities designed to create opportunities for them to interact. They take part in dance and drama, competitions, Miss NYSC and Mr. Macho. They also participate in inter platoon competitions on football, volleyball, table tennis, cooking and sanitation (although, I took part in football, but had an injury at the quarter-final while representing platoon 6).

Corps members are also trained on Man ‘O’ War activities leading to competitions on inter platoon drills and tug of war. They also engage in competition like match-pass.

PRIMARY ASSIGNMENT
This stage is where corps members will have to put into effect all they have learnt in school and the experience gathered at the orientation camp.

At the end of the orientations corps members are posted to their place of primary assignment. While the NYSC management takes into consideration the areas of specialization of corps members in carrying out the posting exercise, emphasis is placed in rural posting in the areas of Agriculture, Health, Education and infrastructure. For example, 1 read Mass communication and was posted to The NIGERIAN OBSERVER.

It is expected that corps members should accept their posting in good faith and be agents of change, contributing towards the development of their host communities

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
Some call it the ‘action stage’ where corps members effect is felt in the community. The Community Development Service (CDS) is aimed at harnessing the skills, creativity and innovativeness of corps members.

Corps members are expected to identified the needs of their host communities and mobilize members of the host communities to embark on the projects. Through this programme, many corps members were able to construct bridges, health care centres, classroom block, market stalls, culverts etc. they had also carried out projects like HIV sensitization, adult literacy campaign, extra-mural classes for students, road safety campaign, breast cancer sensitization, just like the one carried out on October 17th, 2013 by Breast cancer CDS group in Oredo Local Government, Benin City.

Corps member participate actively in the Millenium Development Goals (MDG) through the War Against poverty (WAP) programme of the scheme. They also participate in the dissemination of information through the Press/Editorial group.

WINDING –UP/PASSING OUT
This is known as the achievement/Evaluation stage. At the end of the service year (usually at the 12th month), corps members are gathered in their respective zones for assessment of the service year and de briefing. It is the period when corps members present their final clearance letters from their employers and submit same to their Zonal/Local Government Inspectors.

Parade rehearsals are conducted in readiness for the passing out ceremony which is usually presided over by the executive Governor of the state. During the ceremony, those with outstanding performance during the service year are given state Honour Award. Four corps members were recognized at the 2013 Batch C passing out ceremony in Edo State.

For a corps members to merit an award, he/she must be outstanding in the orientation course, primary assignment, community development service and winding up exercise.

The NYSC Scheme is paramount and absolutely imperatives to every Nigerians graduates in both Universities and Polytechnics, for this will enable them to obtain the National Service certificate after completing the scheme successfully. The experience acquired within the duration of the scheme, will definitely be put into practice in order to develop the nation as a whole.

GOD BLESS THE NYSC
GOD BLESS FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.

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