53 years after, NYSC undergoes holistic reform

By Tony Onyim
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) stands at the threshold of what could be the most comprehensive transformation in its 53-year history. Established in 1973 as an instrument of national reconciliation after the Nigerian Civil War, the scheme has evolved over the decades into one of the country’s most enduring institutions for promoting national unity, youth development, and community service. More than 5.5 million Nigerian graduates have passed through its ranks, serving in every corner of the federation and contributing to education, healthcare, agriculture, public administration, and rural development.
Yet Nigeria today is vastly different from the country that ...