by Seyi Lawal

Digital Peers International and The Future Project’s #ProtectTheCorpers continue the crusade for a reform in the mandatory National Youth Service Corp scheme as the groups call for an online conference on the matter. The conference which will be over the social networking portal, Twitter with the hashtag #Nyscreforms, will hold on Monday October 10 from 4pm to 7pm.

“We aim to gather ideas, suggestions and opinions of young people and critical stakeholders on reforming the 38 year old scheme,” an official statement from the conveyers states.

“In over 38 years of existence, more than 1 million youth across Nigeria have been deployed under the National Youth Service Corps [NYSC] scheme. The scheme which was originally set up with the vision to promote national integuration, cross cultural exchange, mutual understanding and service amongst Nigerian youth, has fallen short of its initial ideals. Since its inception in 197, the decree setting up the National Youth Service Corps has been modified only once through decree 51 of June 1993,” Rotimi Olawale, DPI’s executive director, laments.

“Nigeria’s current social realities of unemployment, poverty, infrastructural challenges and escalating violence have made it imperative to embark upon a reform of the NYSC scheme in order to reposition it to effectively respond to these challenges and contribute to Nation building,” Olawale said.

The twitter conference is part of a bigger project tagged ‘NYSC reforms and Advocacy project’ which is supported by the World Bank.

Oluwapelumi