The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim has disclosed that young Nigerian graduates mobilized for the one-year mandatory scheme can be conscripted to defend the nation during war.
Ibrahim made the assertion when he appeared on Channels TV on Thursday.
According to Ibrahim who is the 18th DG of the scheme since its creation in May 22, 1973 by General Yakubu Gowon, corps member have the required training and manpower to join in defending the nation.
Ibrahim said, “Corps members are on reserve. They are part of the national defence policy of this country. So, where there is serious war, our corps members are educated, they are knowledgeable and they can be trained. You see the drill and so on.
“You can imagine within the short three weeks in the orientation camps, the corps members are moulded. They are like soldiers. You see female corps members blowing the army horn, playing with the military band.
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“So, if not for the knowledge, where are you going to mobilise such young Nigerians to train them quickly to put in their best for the country? So, corps members are on reserve. They are also part of the national defence policy.”
According to detailed information about the scheme as posted on Wikipedia, the scheme was established to involve young Nigerian graduates below the age of 30 for the purpose of integrating, uniting and ‘raising the moral tone of Nigerian youths by giving them the opportunity to learn about higher ideals of national achievement, social and cultural improvement.’
The scheme also outlined its objectives to include: To enable Nigerian youths acquire the spirit of self reliance by encouraging them to develop skills for self employment.
To contribute to the accelerated growth of the national economy.
To develop common ties among the Nigerian youths and promote national unity and integration.
To remove prejudices, eliminate ignorance and confirm at first hand the many similarities among Nigerians of all ethnic groups.
