NYSC Resumes Orientation in Borno State After 12-Year Hiatus Due to Insurgency

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has successfully reinitiated its orientation services in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, marking the resumption of activities after a 12-year hiatus necessitated by the Boko Haram insurgency.

The NYSC Orientation camp, situated along Kano Road, was closed down in 2012 due to security concerns stemming from the Boko Haram insurgency. This closure prompted fears among Nigerians about the safety of their children who were set to undergo the orientation process.

After years of dormancy, the NYSC camp was repurposed as an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, offering refuge to those displaced from Damboa, Gwoza, and Konduga. As peace gradually returns to the region, the camp has once again become a hub of activity as the NYSC recommences its orientation activities, deploying fresh corps members to Borno State for their mandatory year of service.

Governor Babagana Zulum hailed the Batch B Stream 2 orientation course as a momentous occasion, as it signifies the end of the recurring displacement of corps members from the state. The governor expressed that the absence of these corps members had deprived the people of Borno State of various auxiliary services offered by the scheme and the opportunity to engage with diverse customs, cultures, and norms from around the country.

Governor Zulum affirmed his commitment to actively involve the corps members, particularly medical professionals and frontline health workers, in critical sectors of the state. He pledged to reconstruct the NYSC permanent orientation camp, which had deteriorated over time due to the extended stay of IDPs, resulting in strain on the facility.

NYSC State Coordinator, Comrade Mohammed Adamu, disclosed that a total of 1,125 prospective corps members have registered for the orientation, with 629 males and 496 females. He noted that none of the registered participants had reported any security threats during their journey to the state. Adamu commended the military and other security agencies for ensuring the safety of the camp and its surroundings.

Alhaji Mohammed Bukar, Chairman of the NYSC Governing Board, acknowledged the state’s punctual payment of allowances to corps members and urged them not to relocate to other states. The event culminated in the swearing-in ceremony of the corps members, conducted by the representative of the State Chief Judge, Justice Bukar Malgwi. This occasion marks a symbolic return to normalcy and a fresh chapter for the NYSC in Borno State after years of adversity.