NYSC: How The Internet Has Changed The Way We "Obey The Clarion Call"

When The National Youth Service corps kicked off at the turn of the 1970s, the goal was to unify Nigerians in as many ways possible.

With Nigeria just recovering from a devastating Civil War, starting the scheme seemed like the right thing to do. It's make people who would normally not travel to explore places far from home and embrace new cultures.

So yes, the farther-away NYSC throws you away from your state of residency, the closer they are to the original plan. But while the program hasn't evolved much, the way people serve Nigeria has evolved over time.

A few days ago, call-up letters were released for corpers to begin plans to depart for their 3-week orientation program in camp.

Now, something interesting happened. A Whatsapp group and Nairaland Topic was created for every state startef circulating in broadcasts. So you'll see a "Abia NYSC Stream I". For curiosity's sake, I tried to join. That's minus a 2017 NYSC group that has already garnered 25 thousand members.

Then I got hit with the shocker; every group was full. Now, one Whatsapp group can only take just over 250 people. Now, think about it. There are 37 NYSC camps in Nigeria, one per state. And all but a few were full the day I tried to get in.

That's over 9 thousand people already. This number is ignoring the fact that some states have more than one Whatsapp group. I still managed to find my way into many more groups later on though.
Based on Logistics.

Now, in the days leading up to camp opening, the biggest, most recurring question is this;

"How do I get to camp?"

30 years ago, a prospective Corper depended solely on word of mouth from people at motor parks to find their NYSC camps. You'd have to go to the park. Get a bus to the state where your camp is. Then get to the state, completely unsure what to expect, how much it will cost, or even how long the journey will take.

That has changed now. Not only do you know how much it will cost to get to camp, you also know how many hours you'll spend on the road, what the camp looks like.

And transport companies have taken advantage of this.

They provide buses specially to transport Corpers to camp as every batch is getting deployed.

Watching these Corpers make their way to camp, with as much as 500 texts getting exchanged by the hour, it's incredible how much they already know, what to expect, and how ready they are. And of course, the morale.

I mean, who would have known about a survival guide » list even in 2007?

And remember how in camp, you'd never really get the correct size?

Well, who would have thought Whatsapp could fix a government's incompetence?

If your jungle boot is too big, or khakis, you just need to mention it in your Whatsapp group, and so far so good, everyone's been getting sorted in all the 18 Whatsapp groups I currently belong.

Maybe it also makes Camp officials more responsible.

In 2016, a corps member died in camp as a result of poor management » by NYSC camp officials. Following the massive backlash, leading to a probe which indicted the NYSC .

Now, we expect that officials will become more responsible, considering whatever they do will never get under the radar.

But really, has NYSC changed?

I mean, you just need to look at the bicycle allowance corpers still receive for you to know that no one has touched the NYSC template in decades.

It's probably why some people think NYSC should be scrapped.

I'm not one of them. I think besides Olamide and Phyno's alliance, our closest shot at national unity is the National Youth Service Corps.

I just think it needs major reforms. One that doesn't look like it's coming any time soon.

Now, how's the morale?
http://fabinfos.com/nysc-how-the-internet-has-changed-the-way-we-obey-the-clarion-call/