NYSC

By Muhammadu Sabiu  

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has announced a relief fund of N36.4 million to assist the 1,215 members of the National Youth Service Corps currently stationed in the state for their national service. 

Each individual within the corps will receive N30,000 as part of the support initiative. 

Following his attendance at the oath-taking ceremony for these youth corps members during the reopening of the camp in Maiduguri, Governor Zulum made a weekend visit to the NYSC orientation camp. 

During the visit, he inspected the honour guard and subsequently addressed the corps members. 

Furthermore, the Governor extended his support by providing 10 cows, 10 bags of 100 kg beans, 10 litres of cooking oil, 100 bags of rice, and 10 more bags of 100 kg beans.

These provisions are intended to facilitate a special meal as part of the ongoing three-week orientation programme for the youth corps members. 

In his address, Governor Zulum emphasised the importance of adhering to camp rules and fostering positive relationships among one another.

He urged the corps members to contribute to national harmony through their actions and interactions. 

Governor Zulum conveyed his aspirations for the corps members to exhibit dedication and loyalty to authorities while fostering friendships within the region.

He highlighted the collective goal of building a prosperous Nigeria with sustainable economic growth and development. 

The governor expressed gratitude to the federal government for bolstering security in Borno State, which paved the way for the resumption of NYSC orientation camp operations in Maiduguri after a 13-year hiatus.

By Uzair Adam Imam

There was growing tension among the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members when bandits attacked them on their way to the orientation camp in Zamfara State, killing eleven persons among them.

The bandits also kidnapped no fewer than eight corps members to an unknown destination and reportedly demanded a ransom of over 4 million naira.

Our reporters learned that the corps members were travelling in Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) bus from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to Sokoto State, for the one-year mandatory national service, when their vehicle was intercepted by the bandits.

It was also gathered that their driver, who was among the persons abducted, almost lost his life during the atrocious killing by the bandits.

However, three of the corps members were reported to have escaped during the terrorist attack.

Emmanuel Esudue, a graduate in Agricultural and Environmental Engineering from Akwa Ibom State University and Victoria Udoka, a graduate in Mass Communication from the University of Uyo were among the young graduates that were kidnapped by the terrorists.

A source, who noted to be privy to the situation, revealed that the terrorists had contacted the family of one of the victims and demanded a ransom of N4 million.

He said, “Sad to hear that young graduates going for their National Service year in Sokoto have been kidnapped by bandits.

“Both the Federal Government and various State governments should do everything possible to rescue the eight NYSC members.

“Nothing must happen to them oh!!!Some of them included Emmanuel Esudue, a graduate of [sic] Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Akwa Ibom State University and Victoria Udoka, a graduate of [sic] Mass Communication from University of Uyo.

“At the moment, one of the families, it was learnt have been contacted to pay N4m. Please, this is [a] Federal government matter not the family and should be taking [sic] seriously to save these children from been [sic] tormented further by the wicked kidnappers.

“This is another challenge to the federal government to review deployment of NYSC [members] to nearby states where they schooled due to insecurity rather than posting them across the country.

“May the Almighty God rescue them and let those wicked kidnappers be arrested and brought to book. Their crimes must not go unpunished.”

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says it plans to resume its orientation programme for new corps members in Borno, 13 years after it was put on hold owing to the Boko Haram insurgency.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the insurgency has, for numerous years, forced corps members who had been posted to the state to do their orientation course in Katsina State.

The next orientation would take place in the state, according to Mr Lawal Yusufu, the state’s commissioner of police, who was speaking to reporters at the ad hoc orientation camp on Monday at the Arabic Teachers College in Maiduguri.

Yusufu, who spoke after examining the camp’s facilities, stated that security agencies will collaborate to provide security for the incoming NYSC members at the camp’s entrance, exit, and other strategic locations.

Government representatives, including the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Bukar Tijjani, the State NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, and the State Chairman of the NYSC Governing Board, Alhaji Mohammed Badiya, accompanied the commissioner on the tour.

The new NYSC members’ orientation programme is scheduled to start on August 18.

By Ibrahim Suleiman Ibrahim

The 7th of July marked exactly one year since I completed my NYSC, and so far, it has been an educative and worthwhile experience – Alhamdulillaah!

Let me tell you a story about my first experience in the labour market. The story goes thus;

A few days after the formal completion of my NYSC, I thought I should start job-hunting immediately. I said to myself then, “It’s better to strike while the iron is still hot”, what the Hausa people call “Da zafi zafi ake dukan ƙarfe“. I thought it was a prompt decision I made, forgetting that some of my colleagues with whom I completed NYSC had already secured lucrative jobs long before we completed NYSC. 

I didn’t let that discourage me anyway. “They are children of the elites, after all”—I said to myself. 

Another thing that motivated me to an immediate and unrelenting job-hunting was the fact that the Certificate of National Service, which used to be a barrier to so many opportunities I missed during my service year, had become handy at that time, and would no longer affect subsequent opportunities that might come.

So, to commence the job-hunting. I started following popular job sites and physical employers for job opportunities and ensured I did not let any job advert or link pass me by without applying. All these, I did with much confidence and hope to get a good job in no distant time.

One fateful evening, not up to a fortnight after the commencement of my job-hunting journey, while I was reclining on the sofa, I got a text message that reads thus;

“Congrats u have been shortlisted for our company Orientation on Monday 18/07/22 at 2nd floor, XX building Beside XXX Bank by XXXXX way Opposite XXXXX Road Kaduna, by 8:30 am.”(some information about the venue deserves confidentiality, hence the XXXX).

It was a text message from a random 11-digit phone number informing me that I had been shortlisted for a job and inviting me to an orientation exercise to mark the commencement of the job.

I was hellbent on getting a ‘better job’ that I didn’t even pay attention to the sheer informality and unprofessionalism in the text message I got. 

It is noteworthy that I already had a job I was managing then, but I was eager to get better opportunities since I was done with NYSC and expectations were very high.

So, I dressed my best on the scheduled morning for the orientation exercise and prepared for a possible interview that might come up during the orientation.

It will baffle you to know that I wasn’t even sure which of the jobs I got, but I was confident it would be better than the job I was managing then.

On reaching the venue, I saw a crowd of young people queuing in front of a desk officer for documentation and trooping into a large hall afterwards.

Long story short, I got into the hall after the tedious documentation process and later discovered that I was cheaply lured into attending a ‘Neolife’ lecture—Neolife is one of those tricky investment schemes claimed to be a foreign investment company, filled with a bunch of jobless people, where your income solely depends on the number of people you successfully convince into investing in the scheme. 

They indoctrinate the belief that you could become a multi-millionaire in a few months of investment if you successfully convince people to join the scheme. They tell you about how useless it is to seek salary jobs and how important it is to invest your whole savings into Neolife. They’ll tell you stories of one of their colleagues living in Europe, making millions of dollars due to investing in Neolife.

I felt disappointed and heartbroken to discover that I finally got lured into attending their lecture because of my naivety as a fresh graduate. I have spent my whole life avoiding the agents and promoters of such schemes.

That day I bade an official “Welcome” to the labour Market.

I have more stories about my labour market experience, but I’m indisposed to write about them now; perhaps, I’ll do that leisurely as time passes.

Ibrahim Suleiman Ibrahim wrote via suleimibrahim00@gmail.com.

By Ishaka Mohammed

After accessing some social media posts about the 50th anniversary of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), I wish to share two of the numerous issues I had with the scheme.

Although I’ll try to avoid certain details, I must mention that an unpleasant encounter with a senior official of NYSC marked the third time I shed tears since reaching adulthood.

First issue

When I confirmed my mobilisation to serve under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 2018, I sought information about the registration process and requirements. I found that prospective Corps members could either get their call-up letters through their schools or pay about N3,000 to print the letters online. I went for the first option because I couldn’t afford the second one. Besides, I was about to go to Zaria for my statement of result, so I decided to pick up my call-up letter from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

Everything went well, and I proceeded to the NYSC orientation camp in Fanisau, Jigawa State. However, the camp authorities insisted that I either pay the money and print the online version of the call-up letter or leave the camp and wait for the next stream (due in three months). They maintained their position despite acknowledging the authenticity of my call-up letter, which NYSC had sent to ABU. I had no option but to leave the camp for Kano (a short distance from the camp).

Fortunately, my arrival in Kano changed the story. I had no mobile phone, so I inserted my SIM card into someone’s phone. Within a few minutes, I received two different but connected calls, and I got the money I needed to print the call-up letter, hence my immediate return to the camp.

Second issue

My fellow Corps members received their allowance for December 2018 before the 25th of the month, but I didn’t get mine till after five months.

I started contacting relevant officials in the last week of December 2018, and by April 2019, I had submitted my bank statement of account, proof of clearance and about four letters. Surprisingly, I received a letter from my Local Government Inspector (LGI) titled “Query”, which demanded that I submit a handwritten reply to explain why I shouldn’t be punished for “refusing” to apply for my unpaid allowance. Well, I just replied as instructed, but I still didn’t receive the money (N19,800) until about a month later.

Two questions and answers

One, why did the camp officials force me to pay the N2,786.24? I believe they were keen on generating money for their organisation, and they felt letting me dodge the payment would lead to a fall in revenue in subsequent batches because I might communicate to other prospective Corps members whose closeness to their schools might make them opt for the free call-up letter.

Two, why did I receive a punishment threat for “refusing” to apply for my unpaid allowance? I feel it was the officials’ way of shifting the blame.

Conclusion

I had disliked NYSC long before my graduation from university, and my experiences during my service year only heightened the feeling.

However, I acknowledge the scheme’s contributions to national development. The interest of the majority supersedes that of an individual.

Ishaka Mohammed can be contacted via ishakamohammed39@gmail.com.

By Amina Barau Inuwa

On 28^th October 2015, a cool Tuesday morning, I headed to Jigawa State for the national call to offer my service to the nation. I wasn’t the type of person that went outside Kano often. I found it so amazing because it was my first trip for three weeks outside Kano. I felt a bit afraid. I didn’t know the nature of the people I would meet during my trip and the people in the orientation camp because all my schooling was in Kano State.

We were inside the car with my friends; as they were busy talking and laughing, my eyes and mind were on the road seeing long trees swinging and dancing to the tune of the winds, topographies, landscapes, undulating slopes, farms, markets, schools, and children among others. We reached the orientation camp around 10:00 am, along Dutse Road in Fanisau. I saw hundreds of people called Corps members at the gate being checked. We quickly followed the long queue to be checked too.

I remembered home, asking myself how I could cope among thousands of people as we were 4000+ during the exercise. We were in that queue till 4 pm, and still, we didn’t get accommodation and other things that would be used during the exercise at the camp. Finally, my friends and I sneaked to a line (short-cut), wrote our names and completed the registration for accommodation. We prayed, ate and returned for another registration and collection of kits (uniform, canvas and jungle boots). When I opened my gear, I saw that my boots were not my size, so I went outside around 2 am to change them.

It was hard to sleep because I wasn’t used to sleeping in a big room with many people as we were 64. So I cried as my friends had all slept. But I got used to the camp after 2 – 3 days; I became closer to many people from different schools, states, backgrounds, religions, and tribes.

The morning meditation was the first thing that scared me; we woke up by 3 am, took our baths, and, if there was time, ate something and headed to the mosque for prayers. Immediately after the Salaam was said, the soldiers would shout, “If you are finished, come out”; “If you are sleeping, you are wrong…come out”. I felt afraid for the first two days as soldiers used to scare me, but I was used to it the following days as the soldiers were friendly if and only if you followed their instructions. Each Platoon participates in different activities in the camp. Our group participated in the kitchen too.

I enjoyed the parade on the parade ground, especially when the drums were being beaten. I miss the friends I met. Going to Mami market with Fatima and eating noodles, that is when we don’t want to eat the food prepared by the kitchen, Platoon meetings, lectures (boring sometimes), Entrepreneurial skills which I was in a cosmetology group where I learned how to make air freshener, hair cream, liquid soaps etc. many my friends join different groups and learn other skills.

Activities that I miss at the camp include a parade, lectures, skill learning and friends. My Platoon parade commander (Danladi Mairiga and Aminu), Platoon leader and members, I missed you. The friends I miss include Fatima, Doris, Nene, ‘Yar Gaya, Hauwa, Patience, Your Excellency, Ayo (room leader), Aysha, Aysha (from Niger state), Makkiyya, Sabi’u Halliru, Rislan, Adamu, Aminu Funtua, Ahmad KD, a friend that I can’t recall his name in Kofar Waika of Kano. Many friends and roommates said the space would not be enough to write their names. My colleagues (Amina, Rabia and Walida) started together but later relocated. Some colleagues we started and finished together are all in my mind.

Government Secondary School Kanya Babba, Babura Jigawa State, was my first primary assignment, but I was transferred to Babura Divisional Library for some reasons. I served alongside Ann and Isma’il. That is where I completed my one-year national call.

In conclusion, National Youth Service is an activity that unites people of different tribes and religions, paving the way for many relationships, from marriage (my friends have married during the service year) to jobs and many opportunities. It strengthens the unity among Nigerians.

My service year was peaceful; it was perfect and successful. During my trip, I miss Bandirawa, Kwanar Dumawa, Minjibir, Danbatta, Koko, Tukui, Wailare and Makoda when taking off from Kano. When heading to Jigawa, I can’t forget Kazaure, ‘Yankwashi, Karkarna, Dandi, Burji, Walawa, Tasawa, Kwanar Sandamu, Koko, Kanawa, Babura, Rafin Canji, ‘Yar Kirya, Garun Gudunya, Babura Kudu, Babura Yamma, Gari Uku, Kanya Babba and many other places that I can’t recall their names. Indeed, the people in those areas showed great hospitality to us.

Amina Barau Inuwa wrote from Kano. She can be contacted via aminabarau257@gmail.com.

By Ukasha Rabiu Magama

Youths in Bauchi state have been challenged to engage in community development projects and uphold the spirit of patriotism by providing a lasting solution to the severe hardship the rural dwellers are experiencing due to poor infrastructure in the nation.

Speaking with the reporters in an interview with Joshua Sanga, the Director General of Bauchi state Public Procurement in Kwagga, during the commissioning of the solar borehole project worth over N6 million executed by a corps member, Umar Abubakar Ahmed in Kwagga, Toro local government Bauchi state.

Abubakar, who sacrificed the money offered to him by Shibnobi Firm as an award of recognition for his selfless service to the company said to have spent it to provide a lasting solution to long decades of water scarcity in his community.

Commending the project initiator, Eng. Sanga emphasised that it’s high time for young men to start reaching out to their various communities with such a life-changing project to meet the yearning and aspirations of the people as the government alone can’t meet people’s demands up to a satisfactory level.

While commissioning the milestone project, the chairman of Toro local government of Bauchi state Alhaji Danlami Tashan Dami, represented by his deputy Alhaji Auwal Abba affirmed that when youth possesses patriotism, our rural areas would be developed, adding that it will go a long in reducing the hardship experienced by rural dwellers as well as the burden of the government. 

Umar Abubakar Danfulani, the project initiator, said he only forfeited the 6 million Naira offered to him by Shibnobi Firm not because he doesn’t have dreams but rather to provide potable drinking water to his community. He, however, stated that it pains him much to see his parents, sisters and among other well-wishers fetching drinking water from the mucky pond, adding that government must stand on its feet to end the water scarcity and other social amenities deficits in the rural areas hence the need is to provide a conducive atmosphere for living.

Abubakar asked the parents to take their wards to school, describing education as the bedrock of development, saying that without being educated, he won’t have Shibnobi Firm won’t offer him a job, not talk about bringing the project to the community. Abubakar, who is currently in his one-year mandatory service to the nation in Abuja, said that he struggled so much and sponsored his education as an orphan. Therefore, they called on parents to do everything possible to ensure their wards are educated for a better tomorrow.

In his remark, the royal father of the host community Kwagga, Mlm, Idris Abdullahi, on behalf of the entire Kwagga community, showed their appreciation to the young Umar Abubakar for remembering the town’s predicaments and by bringing them the timely succour, adding that only God almighty can bless him. He also urged the Bauchi state government to provide them with pipes to channel the water to their various houses.

Meanwhile, the Uplift Association presented an award of excellence to the young Umar Abubakar for his sacrifice and selfless service to humanity; while presenting the award Abdulfatah Mu’azu, the association chairman, challenged the youth to emulate his kind gesture as there were many gaps awaiting the youths to fixed, saying government alone can’t provide our needs.

The event had notable dignitaries, Toro local government Danlami Tashan Durumi who was represented by his deputy Alhaji Auwal Abba, a representative from the state ministry of water resources, royal fathers, politicians, corps members, and youths associations, among others.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

According to reports, Brigadier-General Mohammed Fadah, the director general of the National Youth Service Corps, has been fired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Eddy Megwa, the NYSC spokesman, merely stated that a formal statement would be released on Friday when reached.

The Daily Reality understands that the president decided on Thursday, nevertheless.

Only six months had passed since Fadah was appointed director of the NYSC in May 2022 before he was fired.

The National Youth Service Corps has denied reports that 21 female corps members were raped during a robbery on Wednesday.

The scheme confirmed that, contrary to the reports, no physical harm was inflicted on them, and no corps member was raped.

In a statement obtained by journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Chinyere Ekwe, the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of NYSC, clarified the matter.

She was quoted as saying, “In the said story making the rounds, it was alleged that gunmen attacked, raped, robbed and dispossessed Corps Members of their valuables at Udo Ekong Ekwere Street, off Information Drive, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where they reside.

“To put the unfortunate incident in proper perspective, the State Coordinator, NYSC Akwa Ibom State, Chinyere Ekwe in the company of the State Police Commissioner, Olatoye Durosinmi, visited the Corps Members for an on-the-spot assessment.

“While there, it was confirmed that 21 corps members occupy the said property. The interaction with the corps members further revealed that an attack on them was actually carried out by thieves at about 1 am this morning.

“In the process, the invaders took their valuables including phones, laptops and some cash. They confirmed that no bodily harm was meted on them, and no corps member was raped.”

Violent attacks are not only quotidian in the Northern part of the country; the South also suffer from activities of hoodlums and terrorist organisations like the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the Southeast.

By Tijani Hassan

A corps member serving at Al-Furqan Learners’ Academy, Potiskum, Yobe State, has trained and empowered twenty widows on fashion design and tailoring skills in an effort to eliminate poverty and unemployment amongst women in the society.

The corps member, Chidimma Atuchukwu Obiageliaku, who hails from Anambra State, said the gesture was born out of her passion and desire to assist the vulnerable and less privileged in society.

The Commissioning and Presentation Ceremony held on Thursday, 30 June 2022, at the school premises,  witnessed the presentation of certificates, wrappers, sewing materials and seven new sewing machines to the trainee widows. This came after 6 six weeks of intensive dress-making training and other entrepreneurial skills.

Other projects initiated by the Corps member included renovating and stocking a 40-seater school library to boost students’ learning capacity. She said, “whenever you read a book, it equips you with the knowledge and power to become whoever you aspire to be”, hence, donating the library to the school to equip the students to become great in the future.

In his welcome address, the School Director, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed, represented by Alhaji Suleiman Dauda, commended all the Corps members serving under his watch and specifically the project initiator Chidimma. He added that she was the first of her kind to execute a project of this considerable repute.

The state Coordinator of NYSC Yobe State, Hajiya Hafsat Yerima, represented by the Head of Community Development Service, CDS, Mr Abimbola Akin, expressed her satisfaction with the project carried out by the Corps member and hinted that the state would never forget her in a hurry while urging other Corp members to emulate her good gesture.

In his contribution, the Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical), Potiskum, represented by the Head of Digital and Visual Library of the College, Mallam Abubakar Hassan, explained that education is the bedrock of every meaningful society which deserves the contribution of all stakeholders.

Hassan, on behalf of FCE (T), Potiskum donated a reasonable number of textbooks to the school as part of their contribution to the project.

The benefiting widows, who were highly pleased, thanked the Corps member for the humanitarian support. The leader of the widows, Mrs Ladi, said the training is a lifetime investment that has transformed their lives beyond imagination. She prayed to Almighty God to grant their benefactor success in her future endeavours.

Other attendees included the Commissioner, Basic and Secondary Education, Yobe State, Dr Muhammad Sani Idris, representative of the Emir of Fika, His Royal Highness (Dr.) Muhammadu Idrissa Ibn Abbali, Humanitarian organisations, parents and students.

In his closing remarks, the School Director thanked the initiator of the projects and the sponsors and offered her automatic and pensionable employment with accommodation and other benefits after her National Service.

The Community Development Service is one of the key components of the NYSC, designed to have a beneficial influence on the lives of the host community.