The mandatory 3 weeks orientation course for all Nigerian graduates mobilised for participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) national service will commence on Friday across the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The orientation course for the 2023 Batch ‘A’ Stream I will last for three (3) weeks.
The orientation course is designed to achieve among others give Corps Members a better understanding of the objectives of the NYSC Scheme and enable them to internalise its ideals, acquaint members with their environment in their political, cultural, social and economic setting and equip them with practical social and leadership skills that will enable them to meet the challenges of the service year ahead.
Others include inculcating in the Corps members the spirit of national consciousness as a basic ingredient in nation-building, instil discipline in the youths and giving Corps members adequate physical and mental training to imbibe them with the spirit of collective responsibility.
As orientation camps are now open across the 36 States and Abuja prospective corps members have been arriving in camps and taken through various checks by agile camp officials, health professionals and security agencies; the NDLEA, NSCDC and others.
The orientation course will commence with a formal swearing-in and opening ceremony to be presided over by the executive Governor of the State/FCT Minister while the oath of Allegiance and the National Pledge are administered by the Chief Judge of the State/FCT.
Ahead of the opening and swearing-in ceremonies, prospective corps members are being taken through different training physical and intellectual to prepare them for the task ahead within the three weeks of strictly regimented life.
At the Iyana-Ipaja temporary orientation camp in Lagos, prospective corps members were seen undergoing various checks, documentation for admittance and pre-opening ceremony formalities.
At the Sagamu Permanent Orientation camp in Ogun State, the various layers of registration have been activated to qualify the PCMs for the one-year mandatory national service, while the services to grant them residence on camp are nearing conclusion as prospective corps members continue to trickle into the camp from various parts of the country.
Health-wise, the vitals of Prospective Corps Members and camp officials are being taken to know their state of health and fitness.
A female prospective corps member, Rofiat Olokode, deployed to Abia State arrived at the camp at about 11.36 pm. The PCM who departed Abeokuta at about 9 in the morning gave thanks to God for the safe arrival, saying the scheme has allowed her to travel outside the South west for the first time.
Besides, the 2023 Batch A Stream one Prospective Corps Members deployed to Ogun State like their counterparts in other camps are also undergoing swearing-in rehearsals at the parade ground.
Orientation Course Content
The orientation course content involves physical training, drills, lectures on the people and traditions of the host State, professional lectures for Corps health personnel, lawyers, teachers and Skill acquisition training, etc. Corps members participate in social activities designed to create opportunities for them to interact.
They participate in dance and drama competitions, Miss NYSC, Mr. Macho and cultural carnival.
They also participate in inter-platoon competitions on football, volleyball, table tennis, cooking and sanitation.
Corps members are also trained in Man ‘O’ War activities leading to competitions on inter-platoon drills and tug of war.
The introduction to skills acquisition in March 2012 through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) is another cardinal course during the orientation camping period.
The goals are to facilitate training and mentoring of young graduates in skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development of self-reliance. Others include the promotion of public-private partnerships for entrepreneurship development and self-reliance among Nigerian youths.
At the end of the three weeks orientation, corps members are deployed to various organisations and government agencies, especially in the four key areas of health, education, agriculture and infrastructure.
The service year also includes (CDS) which is aimed at harnessing the skills, creativity and innovativeness of Corps members by identifying the needs of their host communities and mobilise members of their host communities to embark on the projects.
Through CDS, corps members have built schools and classroom blocks in underserved areas, construct bridges, health care centres, market and bus stop stalls, adult literacy campaigns, extra-mural classes for students, road safety campaigns, etc.
The end of the service year is marked by the Winding-up/Passing-out and presentation of discharge certificates and honours awards.
