Furore over NYSC orientation course

Debola Ilori graduated from one of the federal universities in the western part of Nigeria where he studied Biochemistry. After few months of awaiting mobilisation by the National Youth Service Corps, he was glad when the call-up letter was eventually issued recently. He was posted to Bayelsa State.

The 27-year-old Debola, who reported to the state orientation camp located at Kaiama Grammar School, Kaiama Kolokoma-Opokuwa Local Government Area on Tuesday for the three-week orientation course said his eagerness for the orientation has waned.

He added that even though the exercise was new to him, past stories concerning the relevance of the skill acquisition, career talks and seminars during the orientation course were not palatable.

Debola stated, “I was told by those who had undergone the course that it does not add anything to what we have learnt in school. If anything, it only adds to the stress of corps members who have to cope with the pressure of clearance and eventual collection of call-up letters before travelling to their respective orientation camps for the exercise.”

His submission was corroborated by a serving corps member, Alice Oritsegbugbemi, who said the academic part of the orientation course during her time achieved nothing. Alice explained that the career talk and skill acquisition programmes did not appeal to her hence she decided not to participate in them.

She said, “We did a lot of military drillings and I cannot remember their impact before and after the entire service. I decided not to participate in the career talk because as graduates we had already chosen a career path. I do not see how the career talk can change the path of someone who studied Law or Medicine for example. Also, there is a skill acquisition which includes learning baking, hairdressing and so on. The time is too short to learn anything and I wonder the kind of expertise someone who learns hairdressing for example can exhibit within the period.”

Besides, Oritsegbugbemi, who is observing her one-year mandatory service in Ogun State, added that many of those who sat for some professional courses introduced to them on the camp later realised they were merely intermediate steps designed for graduates.

“The professional examinations did not add to anything because those who took them later realised they were for mere proficiency. I don’t see the relevance of the entire orientation exercise. One does not even understand what the orientation is all about. I honestly do not see the correlation between orientation course and the eventual places of primary assignments we were posted to. I remember a book I bought after one of the career talks. After reading it, I was disappointed because it contains nothing. It offers nothing new because most of the things there are what a secondary school pupil should know,” she said.

Another serving corps member who gave his name as Adedoyin said the orientation course was a waste of time.

He added that the firms would request willing corps members to pay outrageous fees after the seminar on skill acquisition.

Adedoyin stated, “The orientation is a waste of the precious time of corps members. During the three-week orientation, we were introduced to many things. Career talk and skill acquisition are the highlights of the course. But after the orientation, those who showed interest were asked to meet with the organisations who came to teach at the camp. It all ended up in the request for cut-throat money. For instance, one of my friends who wanted to learn how to print recharge cards lost interest when he could not afford the amount charged.”

A lecturer in one of the universities in Kwara State, Mr.Rasaq Ajadi, who participated in the NYSC scheme in 2009, described it as a laudable project aimed at promoting oneness in the country, especially among youths. He however stated that despite the genuine aim of the initiative, its orientation course lacked a clear-cut focus.

Ajadi noted that it was funny that activities such as skill acquisition, career talks and other allied programmes were held for corps members yearly rather than undergraduates.

“It is a misplaced priority. Those who need such programmes are students and not graduates. The majority of the corps members already knew what they want to know do after graduation. Their career is already focused and it will be a sheer waste of time to be advising them on what to do when it is too late in the day. Will they return to school after the career forum to study a fresh course? I think an entrepreneurial course would have been better even though such ought to be part of the university curriculum,” he added.

Also, former Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Enugu State University of Science and Technology branch, Prof. Gabriel Agwu, described the orientation course as laudable. He however noted that the period of the exercise was short.

Agwu said, “I wonder what the corps members can learn within the short period of the orientation course. I think the duration should be re-examined. It is advisable that graduates try and look for means of employment because the course may really have no impact as it is short.’’

He also advised that university curriculum should include skill acquisition and career talk in order to adequately prepare students before their graduation.

The state coordinator, NYSC, Osun State, Mr. Okpiroro Abada, noted that those who do not know the ideals of the scheme argue from varied standpoints which are often laced with ignorance.

Abada explained that the scheme, apart from serving as a stop-gap for graduates before seeking employment, also seeks to build upon their learning in their various schools.

“What we do during the orientation course is a social contribution from the government. People who do not know what it is all about speak out of ignorance. The skill acquisition is a programme designed to suit the mandate of the scheme before and after the service. We try to prepare corps members for real life situations after graduation. We have four core methods: mobilisation, orientation, primary assignment and winding up/passing out,” he stated.

According to him, the scheme is not only concerned about the relevance of the courses of the corps members but also their survival after service.

While noting that some of the graduates usually do not know the essence of the scheme, he said there was a need to orientate them because of their belief that, “I came because it is compulsory. They just participate through what I can call a bandwagon effect. But we always let them know the importance of the scheme.”

The NYSC identified the need to raise the moral tone of the Nigerian youths by giving them the opportunity to learn about higher ideals of national achievement, social and cultural improvement as part of its objectives