CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The national youth service corps (NYSC) is an organization set by the Nigerian government to involve the country’s graduates in the development of the country. There is no military conscription in Nigeria, but since 1973 graduates of universities and later polytechnics have been required to take part in the national youth service corps (NYSC) program for one year. This is known as national service year, corps members are posted to cities far from their city of origin. They are expected to mix with people of other tribes, social and family backgrounds, to learn the culture of the indigenes in the place they are posted to. This action is aimed to bring about unity in the country and to help youth appreciate other ethnic groups. There is an orientation period of approximately three weeks spent in a camp away from family and friends. After the orientation process corps members are posted to the areas of primary assignment. There is also a passing out ceremony at the end of the year. The program has also helped in creating entry-level jobs for a lot of Nigerian youths. An NYSC
forum dedicated to NYSC members was recently built to bridge the gap amongst members serving across Nigeria and also serves as an avenue for corps members to share job information and career resources as well as get loans from the national directorates of employment.
