On Thursday 14th June, 2012, The Batch B Youth
corps members of about 80,000 youths nationally completed their National Youth Service
Corps program. The NYSC is a program initiated by the Federal Government in
1973 to foster the spirit of selfless service and unity in the Nigerian youths
and populace in diffusion. Over the years the program has been a reliable
partner of progress to the corporate and public sector of the Nigerian nation.
Many corporate and public entities have recognized the
significant roles played by the NYSC members in their development. The 2011
elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which was
widely commended globally recognized the patriotic character displayed by the
NYSC members as instrumental to her success.
Though rarely given due to obvious reasons, commendations
should be given to the Federal Government especially the present administration
for increasing the monthly allowance of the youth corps members from N9, 800 to
N19, 800 in the first quarter of 2011. The increase helped reduce the burdens
being borne by the youths and their parents/guardians in serving their dear
nation.
However, it was shocking when the same administration though
out of good intent announced that youths would only be posted to rural health,
education, infrastructure and agriculture sectors. This as thought by the
Federal Government will help in developing the rural communities of Nigeria.
As we all know that the development
of a nation is the sum total of the development of her citizens. How then the
Federal Government does expect a true development of these youth corps members when
they become idle due to lack of duties and tools. Its a common knowledge that
NYSC youths posted to most government agencies find themselves left with little
or nothing to do thus idling away and eroding their mental and physical energy
due to lack of stimulation.
This is at this global age when youths are the engineers of
national development through ventures in IT, E-commerce and various innovative
economic solutions. The irony is that after completing the NYSC program these
youths who have not been privileged to be exposed to basic use of IT and
intelligent applications required to add value to the economy find themselves
helpless.
The most valuable companies of this age contributing to the
global economy in terms of revenue generation and increasing national
productivity are IT powered. Rural health, education, infrastructure and
agriculture sectors which the government hopes to develop by the new posting
policy can’t be fully developed without full provision of IT resources and
tools to make these sectors perform effectively and efficiently.
There is the need to redistribute evenly the talents and
skills of these youths so that square pegs are not put in round holes. The merits
of the CBN newly introduced cashless policy to the economy has been established
however we are faced with a potential inherent in this policy to tackling
germane problems encountered in this country such as unemployment and
insecurity.
Kenya a nearby country has exploited this platform in
developing critical sectors of the economy and creating abundant job
opportunities. The Agricultural sector was developed by paying local farmers
through mobile money payment platform.
A mobile payment company in Kenya MPESA has created about
36,000 jobs with about 20 million subscribers, it brought about 200,000 new
accounts (mostly from informal sectors) for banks in 6 months with profits of
about 10 million shillings.
Youths are vey instrumental to this growth working as agents
and software creators. Even if Nigeria has not developed to possessing various
venture capitalists that support tech ideas and businesses like the United
States which has created this culture with success stories abounding of likes
of facebook, paypal, etc. The thriving tech culture of nearby Kenya where
different local applications have been developed to solve local problems shows
a possibility.
Featured in the first edition of Forbes Africa Magazine is
the story of a young techpreneur based in Nairobi, Kenya. Kariuki Gathitu
founded Zege Technologies with innovative products like the MPAYER, a software
that can be used as a core mobile payment solution also enabling companies
integrate mobile payments to their existing systems.
The present day Nigerian youth is oblivious of this and many
other existing opportunities as the national climate he sees views success as being
a politician or cronies and receiving part of the national cake without adding
any real value to the economy. The prevailing stories of corruption between the
public and private sector; SEC/National Assembly, Farouk Lawan/Otedola etc
daily affirms this.
The bribery allegations between two respected role models of
youths in the public and private sector, the highly admired and eloquent Hon
Farouk Lawan and business mogul Mr Femi Otedola presented an impression of a country where everything is
for sale including the report of the arms of the government.
As batch B Youth corps members of about 80,000 youths
nationally completed their National Youth Service Corps program on 14th
June and another set comes in July 5th, there are going to be
numerous parades and speeches given by State Governments and representatives in
the different states. The speeches will be centered on the youths living the
spirit of selfless service which the NYSC espouses. However, these teachings
will be competing with the loud and consistent messages screaming in the
society such as corruption where the former President of the nation described
the lawmakers as armed robbers.
For the passing out
youths who should feel a sense of relief and happiness for moving to the next
level, the greater percentage of them feel depressed as it seems to them like
an employee sacked from their jobs, when the future seems scary with little
hope of getting a job soon going by the experiences of their predecessors.
Oyeniyi Oluseye wrote in from Poised Corp magazine,
poisedcorpmag@gmail.com
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