Once upon a time we were toddlers, and then nursery school children; then primary school Pupils; then secondary students; then university undergraduates; then national youth service corps members, then, what next? Get a job? Go for a higher degree? Join the civil service? Join the family business? Start your business? As at the commencement of the service year some people were still not sure of what career path they should follow. We also see that from the toddler to the youth service stage is a sequence that have been predestined for the average Nigerian but the unknown part is what happens after the youth service stage? If the National Youth Service Scheme was not in existence, it would probably have been a case of one graduating from school and seeking for a job based on the particular field of study (even though he had to study the course because of his low matriculation score), mixes with the people of the same field of study without really knowing if he could have done better doing something else. From the lectures given at the orientation camp, a good number of corps members made up their minds on what they wanted; the NDE came and talked about employments, CBN came and encouraged we corps members to write proposals on what we can do, NAPEP came and encouraged us, and MDG came and enlightened us and so much more. Corps members that responded to the call were not disappointed, I watched with delight as a friend of mine during the 2009 batch “A” passing out ceremony collected his certificate and #250,000 to start up a small business, “it has always been my dream to own my own business, and now finally when I thought all hope is lost, I have the chance to” he lamented to us happily and went further to explain that as soon as he got the opportunity to write a proposal in camp he did not hesitate as he saw it as a way to live up his dream. That young man is not alone when it comes to the beneficial aftermath of the scheme; almost all young men who have passed through it started their career with the data they got from the scheme. For those who were neither interested in writing proposals nor ready to indulge in entrepreneurship, the place of primary assignment they were posted to helped a lot in deciding their future career, some corps members who put in their very best got retained, those who were not retained got a one year job experience, a lot of us learnt the manager – subordinate relationship which would stick with us for the rest of our lives. For those that were retained at their place of primary assignment, we can imagine the burden that has been lifted off them. They need not roam around the streets to search for jobs that have become a scarce commodity but sit comfortably in the jobs which they earned through hard work via the opportunity given by the scheme. The few weeks spent at the orientation camps gave quite a lot of people an insight to what discipline is all about. The attitude of the military men and other security service men was something worth emulating, which is the reason why a good amount of corps members rushed to get the direct short service commission course form to join the army as soon as it was advertised. A particular roomy of mine at the camp said there was nothing else he would rather do that join the army and become a military officer. He was perplexed at their organization and level of respect for each other. At the way they lead us to bed late at night and yet still are the first to wake us up early in the morning for our morning drill. Well, that is not all; on getting to the Niger state dance troupe, you would see a nice blend of people from different ethnic background dancing to the rich cultural heritage of the state. Those from other tribes were actually ex corps members who contributed their quota and were requested to stay back. None of them studied dancing at school but because of the chance given to them by the scheme, they were able to exhibit their dancing skills at their place of primary assignment and convert their natural ability into a career. For those that were exemplary and received either a state or national merit award, they would have a chance to ply their trade with the enigmatic and restructured civil service. They have the chance to serve with Nigeria more and rise through the cadres till they get to the pick of a civil service career. Aside the fact that the CDS groups are meant to work towards the development of the community, some corps members have decided to go on with the work they started. A particular corps member, who is a member of the road safety CDS group have decided to join the road safety after the service year, he has seen the effect of road safety officials on the lives of Nigerian motorist and have decided to be a part of it, EFCC and ICPC members have decided they would continue in it after the service year. Some have decided to start an NGO to continue catering for the lives of the poor and disadvantaged rural people while some of those who are members of the NDLEA,NIS,NAPEP have decided joining the organization fully when they round up their service year. It is obvious that the one year period spent as a corps member guides us towards what we want to become, and the various activities we partake in and see around us influences our decision making. More so, we realize that as soon as we conclude our service year we are on our own. In the next couple of years, one would look around Nigeria with friends all over the states engaging in different careers they have chosen during the course of the service year, an opportunity they would not have had without the NYSC scheme. IRIA,Eghosa
