The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has finally resumed its orientation services in the Borno State capital, Maiduguri, after a 12-year closure due to the Boko Haram insurgency.
The NYSC Orientation Camp, previously located along Kano Road, was shut down in 2012 at the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency, as Nigerians expressed concerns over the safety of their children.
After years of inactivity, the NYSC camp was converted into an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp, providing refuge for IDPs from Damboa, Gwoza, and Konduga.
With the return of peace, camping activities have now resumed, with corps members being deployed to Borno State for their one-year mandatory service.
The Batch B Stream 2 orientation course was described as historic and special by Governor Babagana Zulum, as it marked the end of the incessant dislodgement of corps members from the state.
The governor acknowledged that the absence of corps members had deprived the people of the state of the benefits of the scheme, as well as the opportunity to appreciate diverse norms, customs, and cultures from different parts of the country.
Governor Zulum promised to actively engage corps members, particularly medical doctors and other frontline health workers, to contribute in critical areas of the state.
He also pledged to reconstruct the NYSC permanent orientation camp, which has deteriorated under the strain of hosting IDPs for an extended period.
The State Coordinator of NYSC, Comrade Mohammed Adamu, reported that a total of 1,125 prospective corps members have registered for the programme, consisting of 629 males and 496 females. He further stated that none of them encountered any security threats during their journey to the state.
The coordinator commended the military and other security agencies for ensuring the safety and security of the camp and its surroundings.
The Chairman of the NYSC Governing Board, Alhaji Mohammed Bukar, lauded the state for its prompt payment of allowances to the members, urging them not to relocate to other states for any reason.
The swearing-in ceremony of the corps members was the highlight of the event and was administered by the representative of the State Chief Judge, Justice Bukar Malgwi.
