A SELFLESS CORPS

"A selfless Corps"...building communities, bridging societies, unifying a nation

As a kid, anytime I saw someone wearing the Nysc uniform, I was always excited. There was something about it that made me stare till they walk past. Was it because they were called names like "Corper", "Ajuwaya", "Corpershaun"? I couldn't tell. Suffice to say, I was eager to also wear that uniform.

Fast forward to some years later. I am in the Nysc permanent orientation camp, Ede, Osun state. I am listening to people talk about the Nysc scheme and what Corp members have done and are doing for the communities they are posted to. It was then it hit me. Nysc is bigger than the uniform. It is the bridge that links communities. It isn't only about cultural integration. It is about unifying the nation.

The Nysc was introduced on the 22nd of May, 1973. Nigeria had just gone through a devastating civil war which lasted 3 years. The very fabric of our unity as a nation was torn. The different ethnic groups in the country didn't trust one another anymore. What can we do to rebuild our nation? Our leaders asked themselves.

After much brainstorming, they came up with the Nysc scheme. Let our youths who just graduated from higher institutions spend twelve months in a community they are not familiar with. Let them learn the culture of the people and let the people take them as their own.

Being mobilized into the Nysc scheme is a call for selfless service. You leave everything you are familiar with and like Abraham in the bible, go to the land the scheme chooses for you. You partake in Community Development Services. Corp members renovate libraries, give free medical health checkup to people in their communities, teach adults who are willing to learn and so much more. All these is an act of selfless service and the fact that it comes from youths who have no previous ties with the community says a lot.

If Nigerians can inculcate the virtues of Corp members which borders on selfless service to the Nation, perhaps we would have a better place to call home. Also a reminder to Corp members passing out. Let us not forget what the scheme has taught us. Let us continue to help people in whatever capacity we can irrespective of their ethnic group or religious affiliations.

 

Olawunmi Omope

OS/19B/4474