As has become my habit, I took time to read your comments on this page and noticed that a number of you called for the proscription of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The deaths of members of the NYSC during the post-election violence is condemnable and we need to prevent a re-occurrence, but in doing that, there should be an awareness that the NYSC is a force for good and we must never sacrifice what is good for what is convenient for the moment. Leadership is about taking in the big picture.
The NYSC scheme was birthed by the Gowon administration as a means of enhancing Nigeria's unity by making Nigeria's youths spend a period of sacrificial living in parts of the country outside the immediate location in which they were raised. And this scheme is to a large extent achieving its purpose.
We need more of anything that will build unity in Nigeria and it is not possible to build unity without unifying vehicles. The NYSC like the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air force and Police are unifying vehicles.
These vehicles serve their purpose because they endure trying times seeing as the core value behind their creation is sacrifice. And just as we recognize fallen heroes of the Armed Forces on Remembrance Day, we will never forget our fallen heroic Youth Corpers. The five million Naira compensation to their families will not bring them back but it is a gesture to show that we mourn with them. We will do all that is humanly possible to bring justice to their killers. However, in doing this, we must retain the scheme and IMPROVE on it so that it becomes a living memorial to the sacrifice of Nigeria's youth to the growth, progress and unity of our nation. GEJ
