What Future Awaits Our Out-Going Corps Members?

By: Adediran Monsurah Atinuke

 Federal Ministry of Information and Communication,

 Abuja.

Precisely, on February 26^th 2009 the serving Batch A National Youth Service Corps members 2008/2009 across the 36 states of the country and the FCT will again have a memorable day added to their lives as they conclude the mandatory one year service to their fatherland.

However, the million dollar question that should probe the faculty of every aspiring corps member as he or she receives the discharge certificate is what future awaits me?

As usual, the outgoing corps members would be gathered in the presence of top government functionaries and private sector players alike who would watch several presentations and applaud speeches void of necessary solutions salient to the challenges awaiting the next batch of corps members warming up to undergo the hardship with which their predecessors where subjected to.

Unlike the early years when dividends of education patiently awaited the nation’s graduate, the reverse is the case today. It will be disheartening seeing how thousands of graduates will be trooped out like free birds out of their cage, adding to the number of helpless unemployed souls in the country. This is definitely another transition stage in the life of the Nigerian youth which deserves genuine attention from the society as a whole.

In this nation, we have a long way to go. We talk of national development but we lack well co-coordinated leaders. And the core-committed minded youths are not given the chances to contribute their quota to make the nation a better place to be. Meanwhile, millions of dollars rare being earmarked for several visional programmes among which are youths empowerment programmes but quite unfortunate, these super-ordinate goal have always been in vain due to the greediness, self-centeredness and corruption among our leaders. That is why they have got nothing tangible to show for real other than paper reports.

Several claim for the youths do adorn their speeches which eventually appear on our dailies but these do not always contain the true picture of what they really meant. All their designed programmes as we have witnessed are just means to make private profits and political gains. But they fail to realize that things were not done this way in their own days. Most of our present leaders got free education and scholarship to study abroad with lots of opportunities attached. Why must our generation be made to suffer?

Nigerian leaders (both in the public and private sectors) should always remember the saying that the attitude of a state man towards his saddled responsibility will surely count after him. If they continue to take solace in their immediate family, and feeling unconcern about the masses and the future of this nation, then they should know that they eat nothing other than fire in their belly and they will surely account for all the endowed resources which are meant for the populace.

If only our leaders can have a true picture of what whom Nigeria Youths are, it will be better of and they can feel for and work for the betterment of the youths and the nation. Government at all level and the private sectors could do a lot more to improve on their social responsibilities in the youth by providing enabling environment for the youths after service. Their name could be great in the history of the nation if they can start that outright.

It will go a long way in reviving the condition of Nigerian youths if we can all utilize our individual talents and abilities legitimately to raise the flag of entrepreneurship irrespective of our career. The society is so challenging though, with commitment and determination, we shall get to our promised land.

Really, the subject of discourse must be a collective responsibility for all in the country; it does not augur well to see our graduates to embark on another NYSC (Now Your Struggle Continues) after serving their father land.

By: Adediran Monsurah Atinuke

 adediran.atinuke@yahoo.com

 Federal Ministry of Information and Communication,

 Abuja.

Robot  # 1 | 19.02.2009 07:57

What Future Awaits Our Out-Going Corps Members? By: Adediran Monsurah Atinuke Federal Ministry of Informationand Communication, Abuja. Precisely, on February 26th2009 the serving Batch ANational Youth Service Corps members2008/2009 across the 36 states of the country and the FCT will again have a memorable day added to their lives as they conclude the mandatory one year service to their fatherland. However, the million dollar question that should probe the faculty of every aspiring corps member as he or she receives the discharge certificate is what future awaits me? As usual, the outgoing corps members would be gathered in the presence of top government functionaries and private sector players alike who would watch several presentations and applaud speeches void of necessary solutions salient to the challenges awaiting the next batch o...Read the full article.

purple  # 2 | 19.02.2009 12:26

Ms Adediran, The short answer to your question: Out going corps members will swell the ranks of unmployed and unemployable Nigerians, many of whom will resort to criminal enterprise and continue to give Nigeria a black eye world wide. Tha longer answer is that much of what is contained in your article is common knowledge in Nigeria and elsewhere. What is needful are suggestions as to how to remedy the situation. How do we put our youth to work and harness their creative energies? How do we churn out graduates who are well prepared for the local job market? Graduates who can spell correctly, who can string intelligent sentences together, graduates who can engage in critical analysis, think outside the box, graduates who can be flexible in their thinking and can problem solve? Concerned individuals and groups in Nigeria and abroad can tackle these questions and begin to create a future for young Nigerians. However, while the continous crying to government and the so called 'leaders' has its place, it is not and cannot be the only solution to this problem. Thanks all the same for the article.