The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a program set up by the Nigerian government to involve Nigerian graduates in nation building and the development of the country. There is no military conscription in Nigeria, but since 1973 graduates of universities and later polytechnics have been required to take part in the National Youth Service Corps program for one year.[1] This is known as national service year. (Wikipedia).
The NYSC scheme was created in a bid to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian Civil war. The unfortunate antecedents in our national history gave impetus to the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps 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”. (NYSC website).
However in recent decades, more youths and social commentators have called for the scrapping of the program, citing frequent road mishaps affecting corps members, poor remuneration, poor facilities, outdated purpose, ethno-religious attacks against corps members and many more reasons.
As a #TravelGuy, my portfolio goes beyond foreign trips as I have personally been to over 25 of the 36 states & Federal capital territory of Nigeria. For clarity, ‘been to’ means a destination not passing through as i have spent at least 1 night or a significant part of the day in those states.
After my undergraduate degree, I was lucky enough to work with my step-dad in Abuja, which allowed me to frequent the Lagos – Abuja route by bus. Subsequently I was posted to Borno State, North Eastern Nigeria for my compulsory service year by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
My mindset was much different from most of the corps members I met with as they had a disdain for the program and were looking forward to leaving after the first 3 weeks of camp. Personally, I had a different outlook as I eagerly looked forward to the experience.
The 3 weeks of camp was just a breeze as money was not an issue for me, grandpa had given me some cool cash, I had broken my long kept safe and my aunt in the U.K made a few GBP transfers. This made me one of the coolest corp members in my set as I never ate in the general cafe, I drank only bottled water and could afford hot pepper soup and a cold brew EVERY NIGHT.
On completion of the first phase of the service year (3 weeks camp), most of my ‘Lagos friends’ ran back to Lagos and planned to ‘sort’ their way through the year. I on the other hand got about 3 minor job offers (after making a few calls of course). Officially posted to the Governor’s office, I was given leeway to take another job as a teacher in a computer school smack in the center of town. My experience at this computer school formed the most dramatic NYSC experience and sways my position in the NYSC dialogue.
It was one of the 3 times i left Maiduguri; the Borno State capital during my service year; i had told my boss the owner of the computer school of my intention to go spend a week or two with some of my siblings in Abuja. The 10hr journey by road never phases me as I love the serenity and the ‘get-away-ness’ of it.
Alas, my boss who is a pastor asked if I wouldn’t mind taking a detour through Taraba state enroute abuja to deliver a message (an invite to perform) to a popular gospel artist. Now, between naivety and adventure, the only question I asked was “so how do i get there?”, and the response was as crazy as could have been. “Well he stays in Takum, Taraba state, he is a pastor, gospel artist and a party stalwart of XXX party, but we don’t have his actual address!!”
Me: “How do i get to Takum?”
My boss: “It should not be longer than 30 mins from the city capital Jalingo”.
Well, a much older and wiser me would have done my own research online and asked others.
The morning came, I headed out to the bus terminal in Maiduguri to board a bus to Jalingo; my thought was to make it out early, head to Takum from Jalingo and then on to Abuja.
The journey from Maiduguri to Jalingo took all of 9hrs plus, then I knew I may have bitten more than I could chew, as I got into town in the early hours of the afternoon. Well, things were to take a turn for the spectacular as I asked about the vehicle to Takum and the travel time; “That is the car that would take you, you should be there in 5 hrs”. Yes!! 5hrs 🙂
So here i am on a detour through a state I have never been to. Where I know nobody, where i have no address of where I am going, no phone network (as the GSM networks had not gotten that far back then). I found myself asking “do i turn back?”, “do i just head to Abuja from Jalingo – as i can make it out there before it gets too dark.
Then adrenaline kicked in, “Common force, that’s not you – i found myself telling me “Life is an adventure, live it before you leave it”. I proceeded to Takum and got in at about 6:00pm and the first thing I thought about was, how do I find someone in this town? Looking round I saw the flag of his party hoisted above a small hut type bungalow :). As i walked in, i introduced myself and told them who i was looking for. Being a party stalwart, his name rang a bell and they ushered me outside to a commercial bike to take me to his house which was quite a distance away.
On getting to his house, I walked toward his main door with all sorts of thoughts in my head; what happens when I deliver this message? Would I be allowed to sleep for the night and proceed to Abuja the next day, as i didn’t see any hotel in the whole area (besides my travel budget did not make provision for anything of that sort). As I knocked on the door, a lady opened and asked who I was there to see. I introduced myself, and explained what brought me and whom i was there to meet. “Oh! Sorry , he is out of town on a mission. “He would not be back for a few days but i would deliver your message when he comes back” she said.
I was confused for a second, then I pulled out a pen and a sheet of paper from my bag, wrote a powerful and compelling note about the program he is being invited for, who I was and what I had gone through to locate his house. She collected the note, thanked me and shut the door. The next question is “Where do i sleep?”.
Just as i had observed the Party flag in the center of town, i had also observed the NYSC flag a few streets away from this pastors house, i strolled that way and realised it was a “Corpers Lodge”. Knocked, introduced myself and told them what brought me to town. Within a few minutes, the guys had put some rice on fire, and bought some beers. That’s how the mini-party started till late.
By the next morning, I took a shower, stopped by the pastor’s house to let his wife and family know I was leaving town for Abuja.
To a Dangerous, adventurous, exciting, and may be stupid day, it is one key positive that the scheme brings to Nigeria and Nigerians as i have heard so many positive stories about it. As with many programs in the country, it can be reviewed to meet the future and more modern expectations of a nation. There should be better protection of the corps members, more flexibility and direction.
Unfortunately, Nigeria has gotten much worse over the years and even shorter trips than this are dangerous. I pray we return to a nation where we can encourage local tourism, where we can get up and go anywhere at any time of the day or night.
Coming soon, project 774, daycations and staycations with @lereboy !! it is going to be exciting.
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Cheers and thanks for reading.
This brought back nostalgia. My NYSC was in Ebonyi State, and it was actually my first trip to the eastern part of the country. Yeah, my folks are not familiar with Abakaliki, and that makes then developed anxiety and also apprehensive. But, I was ready for the adventure. I ended up spending 5 years in Ebonyi State .
The NYSC gives me that opportunity to visit other parts of Nigeria. I still believe it has not totally outlived its usefulness, and I bet NIGERIANS know more about the UK and American states than NIGERIA. I agree we can tweak it to suit the modern realities of our country. But, I maintain that it should be retained, especially now when the ethics tension are very rife and palpable.
Thanks for sharing sir, you are right. Its never a great idea to throw away “The baby and the bath water”.
Cheers
I agree it shouldn’t be stopped. It definitely has a place in our society though things have changed in recent times but I still believe in it’s purpose.
I believe too.
Still as fascinating as the first time you told me this story.
Thanks for sharing again.
Great story. Never went for the NYSC programme but this makes me want to re-apply and check it out.
Oh! it was fun. As long as you go with the right mind set.
Fab story! Really enjoying these series. Particularly so good to “read” Nigeria from a different perspective, love it!
Truly, the scheme has its usefulness and flaws which I believe can be fixed overtime.
I can vividly remember some Corp members clamoring for the scrapping of the scheme, aside from the unity and diversity purpose, I believe it has helped some people in acquision of skills and others in the areas of allawee which serves a purpose (no matter how little).
Atleast, I know of some people that send a little change back home from that token, meanwhile, there’s no guarantee of job waiting for anyone. So that is one of the positive aspect I see to it and I’ve never been in support of scrapping it.
We just need to be continually innovative.
Thanks for reading.
This brought back memories of my NYSC experience, was posted to Twon Brass in Bayelsa, had a blast, i learnt a lot about the Ijaw culture ye!, promised to return for a visit, haven’t had the opportunity.
Nostalgic is the perfect word that describes this article. Very well written and extremely interesting. Unfortunately, i am not the adventurous type. Too scared of everything especially in Nigeria, to embark on such a journey.
Well done travel guy, i am here for the staycations within Lagos sha…..
It’s so easy to forget how large the nation is, having been to 4 states I have gotten tunnel visioned into believing the world is small. This was a great refresher.
NYSC was quite interesting for me. I served in Abia state and as the original travel clubber, I made sure I visited the surrounding states.