In narrating this story, I relieved events and incidents that brought back painful memories I would rather leave behind. But it's my story; I'm never ashamed to share it. The National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) scheme was designed to foster the country's unity and co-existence. Over the years many Nigerian graduates have benefitted from the scheme that normally lasts for a period of one year. Sadly, some have lost their lives in the process.
A quite number of Nigerians believed it's an avenue to help fresh graduates gain work experience and develop employability skills. Others see it as an avenue to learn useful entrepreneurial and business skills that they can lean on, at the end of the scheme.
Currently, 63% of Nigeria's population is under twenty-five years of age, and like the rest of Africa, its youthful population can either be harnessed for demographic dividends -or it can pose a tough employment challenge.
NYSC, apparently, becomes the first job opportunity to gain as a Nigerian fresh graduate; as the government would place the corps members under a monthly allowance for the period of one year.
The question is, has this scheme in anyway solved or attempted to solve the problem of unemployment in the country?
This book narrates my ordeal during my service year to Nigeria. It exposes my struggles and lessons during this period
I've always believed in setting goals, short and long term. Though some of them may not always work as planned, the process keeps me more disciplined.
Service year to me is a year of prep.
The big question is "what are you preparing for".
- A career life?
- An Entrepreneurship journey?
- Higher education pursuit?
- Job opportunities?
- Employability skills?
Once this question is answered correctly, you'll gain clarity on the best way to make good use of your service year.
So, when people say "I just wasted a whole year in this youth service" I'd be like "well you never really had a plan".
This book exposes my ordeal as a Corp member -the mandatory one-year service for all Nigerian Graduates.
It's a short story with many twists.
I know you'd find it interesting.
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Mbaogu Goodness T. is a young Nigerian lady who thrives in her gift of writing. Obeying the Clarion Call is her third published book among many other short book series and articles. She has contested in Union Bank Campus Writing Contest with Okada Books in 2018 -submitting The Moonless Dawn as her short story collection.
She is popularly known as MicroWriter on her social media handle; as she is a writer by passion and Microbiologist by training, thus the name Micro-Writer.
