By Fatima Saka
Port Harcourt, Nigeria — An educationist, Dr. Elechi Owhoeke, has described calls for the scrapping or suspension of the (NYSC) as unnecessary, insisting that the scheme remains a critical tool for national integration and youth development.
Owhoeke, a lecturer in the Department of Industrial Chemistry and Petrochemical Technology at the , made this assertion in Port Harcourt, warning that discontinuing the programme could aggravate insecurity by leaving many graduates without meaningful engagement after completing their studies.
“If graduates are not engaged after leaving school, they may be tempted to engage in activities that could threaten public peace and security,” he said.
The don commended the scheme’s Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, noting that it has, over the years, produced thousands of entrepreneurs, reduced unemployment, and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He, however, called for reforms to strengthen the scheme, urging the Federal Government to redesign it to create employment opportunities for corps members after their one-year service. He advocated for the signing into law of the proposed NYSC Trust Fund bill to boost funding for skills development and expand access to grants and credit facilities for young entrepreneurs.
Owhoeke further highlighted the scheme’s contributions to national development, particularly in providing manpower support to states and local governments in critical sectors such as health, education, agriculture, environmental sanitation, and nutrition.
According to him, the NYSC has also achieved one of its core mandates by fostering unity through cultural integration and exposure among young Nigerians.
“The NYSC is a win-win situation for the country. Scrapping or suspending it will not be in the nation’s interest,” he stressed.
The educationist recalled that the scheme was established in May 1973 by the administration of in the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War to promote national unity, reconciliation, and integration.
He maintained that the programme remains as relevant today as it was over five decades ago, urging the government to focus on strengthening national security and improving the scheme rather than scrapping it.
Owhoeke also noted that the NYSC has fostered thousands of inter-ethnic marriages and strengthened social cohesion across the country, describing it as a valuable national asset that should be preserved and enhanced.
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That is very sacrosanct…NYSC remains a pivotal tool for National integration and youth empowerment