OPEN LETTER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA: RESTRUCTURE THE NYSC WITH OPTION TO SERVE IN THE STATE OF ORIGIN OR REGION OF CHOICE TO AVERT KIDNAPPING OF CORP MEMBERS OR SCRAP THE INITIATIVE AND

OPEN LETTER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA: RESTRUCTURE THE NYSC WITH OPTION TO SERVE IN THE STATE OF ORIGIN OR REGION OF CHOICE TO AVERT KIDNAPPING OF CORP MEMBERS OR SCRAP THE INITIATIVE AND REMODEL INTO 8MONTHS PUBLIC SERVICE FELLOWSHIP

It was announced recently by different news outlets and media houses that members of National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) were kidnapped while they were reporting to the location for their national service and assignments.

Similar scenarios have played out over the years without ending in sight to these barbaric occurrences despite different security strategies the government have deployed to curtail these trends.

In some part of Nigeria, during the Boko Haram uprising against western education and other faith induced crises, youth corpers serving their father's land in that part of Nigeria became a victim of circumstances, as many terrorists organizations see them as soft target and quick medium to reach the Federal Government by attacking them or kidnapping them to express their grievances and dissatisfaction in direction of some government policies (One of the problems inherited by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR).

It is high time the Federal Government of Nigeria revisit the objectives for the creation of the Youth initiative, restructure the model  that guides it operation, move a motion for the amendment of the bill establishing the scheme in the National Assembly, propose a safe and secure framework to protect fresh graduates if the scheme is to continue.

Many Nigerians across social media channels have suggested that the Federal Government should scrap the programme, as some Nigerians perceive it as time wasting and not adding value to personal development except that it's a requirement for corporate and government employment.

I'm of the school of thought that opines that the National Youth Service should be reform and restructure with option to serve in the state of origin or region of choice.

No state without enemies or government without adversaries, the enemies of Nigeria have fabricated their weapons of bloodshed and we cannot continue to sacrifice the leaders of tomorrow in the altar of terrorists and other blood suckers disguising as fighting an holy religious war or sending out our rising intellectuals to become a pawn in the game of power.

Our country cannot afford to continue risking the lives of our youths; our seeds of innovation and brains, who have accumulated knowledge and equipped with the discipline needed to fix the issues affecting our society on the account of negligence and failure to act in the best interest of our future as a republic.

The NYSC programme should empower, enriched the minds, provide needed employability skills, provide access to corporate and public work tools, on the job experience, technical capacity building, platform to explore local and international opportunities, and not become another trap or web of destroying the hope of some families or bringing sorrow to parents who sacrifice everything for their children to attain academic excellence.

The 8months Public service fellowship programme can be rooted in entrepreneurial skills development, digital acceleration, professional training and seminars to improve expertise in chosen career, on the job training to enhance mental and physical wellness in preparation for self employment or corporate/public service engagement, robotics, solar energy system and installation, waste to energy conversion technology, artificial intelligence, monetizing digital content, para-military training; handling of arms for self defense and public safety, peace building and conflicts resolution, public service and governance, preservation and packaging of agri produces for exports, and other positive attributes of the current NYSC initiative which can be transformed and remodel into a more efficient, effective and safe programme capable of refining our graduates to become a problem solvers, wealth creators, industrialists, policy reformer, positive change agents, development catalysts and leaders who are globally competitive and universally oriented in projecting Nigeria as the authentic giant of Africa, consolidating on the achievements of our heroes past.

Yours Patriotic Citizen,

Egunjobi.

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