8 facts you did not know about NYSC

1.     No fewer than two million Nigerian graduates have served the Country through the NYSC scheme in the last forty years. The scheme started with 2,364 graduates in 1973, now over 250, 000 graduates passed through the scheme each year for the national service.

2.     The scheme’s objectives were to develop common ties among the Nigerian youths and promote national unity and integration.

It was also to enable Nigerian youths acquire the spirit of self-reliance by encouraging them to develop skills for self-employment and to work as a team to have a virile nation.

3.     The programme of the scheme, include orientation courses, primary assignment, community development service and passing out.

4.     The service year focus primarily on four sectors which are Agriculture, Education, Health and Infrastructure in line with the present administration to develop the host community with their contributions.

5.     The corps members had been supporting all other sectors, including participating in electoral activities, national census, among others.

6.     NYSC is into collaborations with agencies like Energy Commission on renewable energy, NEMA in disaster management and control, EFCC, ICPC, MDG and Bank of Industry for corps members to secure loan.

7.     The scheme had helped The Gambia to have an institution similar to NYSC and was trying to replicate it in Sierra Leone.

8.     The major challenge has been funding, but the government and management are doing their best to have the best.