CORPS MEMBERS IN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND THE ASPIRATION FOR GREAT NIGERIA.

THE ROLE OF CORPS MEMBERS IN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND THE ASPIRATION FOR GREAT NIGERIA.

 Aligning with John F. Kennedy's statement in his inaugural address in 1961,"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country", is a call to embrace responsibility through leadership by all citizens especially those in their youthful age.

          As the concept of national service has been a global practise across many nations in Africa and the world {either conscription or mandatory service}, preparing youths through mentorship and training to face the challenges ahead and become future leaders of the nation.

          In Nigeria, were 60% of the population constitute the youth, the National Youth Service Corps {NYSC} was created as a post civil war panacea in 1973 by General Yakubu Gowon to help reconcile and build the country, finding common ties among youth of Nigeria and improve national unity.

          As part of the schemes four cardinal points; Orientation Exercise, Primary Assignment, Community Development Service and Passing Out, corps members have been saddled with the responsibility of promoting communal living despite the tribe and religious belief, service to fatherland, peaceful coexistence and bringing development to their host communities, touching all sphere of human endeavour.

          In service towards building a greater Nigeria, corps members have contributed immensely to the political and electioneering process in Nigeria, through its sensitization and awareness programmes people become better informed about their electoral rights and privileges. Playing vital roles as liaison between host communities and electoral agencies, corps members usually act as electoral officers as they are perceived as fair judge that would always stand for the truth.

          In the same vein, corps members have on several occasion received invitations to participate in the conduct of sensitive national assignments as population census, elections etc, is not only an expression of faith in the ability of the scheme, but an appreciation of its achievements.

          Furthermore, the scheme inculcates the spirit of higher value like patriotism, promoted and rekindled interest in vital areas of national development like agriculture, entrepreneurship, promoting leadership qualities in youth in the federation, thus keeping the hopes alive for a better Nigeria. In other words, corps members have created a balance in the development effort of the nation.

Also, the scheme has over the years allowed for the regular and effective distribution of skilled man-power across every nook and cranny of the country supplying qualitative labour regularly to the economy. Corps member are posted to various rural communities as change agents to assist such communities achieve similar standards as seen in urban centres. Through their developmental works, corps members have succeeded in breaking social and cultural barriers as well as build friendly bridges across the nation. It will not be wrong to say that the greatest contribution of the scheme is in the area of education; as no less than sixty percent of its members serve in educational institutions.

          It was Edmund Burke who said “No body made a greater mistake that he who would do nothing because he could do little”, judging by the rich citations in the schemes annual award, corps members have in their own little way identified and initiated projects that had direct impacts on the lives of their host communities. From the construction of classroom blocks to donations of books to schools, water projects, health services including surgeries and many others are proves that both corps members and the NYSC have achieved much through interactions with the local communities have become life long participants and take on a sense of ownership in development effort.

          In conclusion, the National Youth Service Corp is a breeding ground for future leaders, as the policy thrust of the scheme is to serve as a catalyst for sustainable development in Nigeria, eliminating socio cultural and political prejudice thereby creating a healthy atmosphere for growth. So, it would be absurd to advocate that the scheme be scrapped. As participants at the end of their service year come out not as tribal champions but as nationalist with a stronger fiber and appreciable degree of respect for the dignity of labour.

 BY ODEKA OGHENETEGA