In a thought-provoking lecture titled “Harnessing the Potential of the Nigerian Youths for National Unity and Development,” Brig. Gen. Dogara Ahmed, the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), discussed the challenges and accomplishments of the scheme during the 5th convocation lecture at Edo State University, Uzairue.
Represented by NYSC Director, South South Zone, Ladan Baba, Brig. Gen. Dogara Ahmed emphasized the crucial role of the NYSC in mobilising an average of 350,000 corps members annually to promote national unity and development in Nigeria. However, he highlighted several pressing challenges faced by the scheme.
The challenges outlined by the NYSC DG included the inadequacy of orientation camp facilities, poor infrastructure, incorrect data submissions for graduates, the presence of low-quality graduates in the mobilisation and deployment process, and the proliferation of corps member relocation racketeering schemes.
Brig. Gen. Dogara Ahmed called upon state governments to fulfill their statutory responsibilities by providing, maintaining, and upgrading camp facilities within their domains. He acknowledged the significant contributions of corps members to the development of education, especially in rural communities, where they serve as teachers in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions.
He noted the involvement of corps members in various sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, NYSC ventures, general elections, national census, skill acquisition, and entrepreneurship development. These roles, he emphasised, play a vital part in the country’s growth and development.
The Director General also underlined the historical context of the NYSC scheme, highlighting that it was established as a deliberate public policy to support the government’s post-war strategy of Reconciliation, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation (RRR). The primary objectives of the scheme, he stated, are to instill discipline, a strong work ethic, and a sense of patriotism and loyal service to Nigeria in the country’s youth, wherever they may find themselves.
