Arise News analyst, Dayo Sobowale, has called for a fundamental rethink of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), arguing that the scheme should focus more on strengthening democratic values among young Nigerians rather than emphasizing skill acquisition.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Monday, Sobowale said current proposals to transform the scheme into a platform for industrial or vocational training miss the deeper national need.
According to him, “We are in the digital age. The industrial age is an anachronism.”
He argued that graduates already leave university with knowledge and should be given opportunities to apply what they have learned, rather than being retrained during their service year.
“You cannot use these graduates to acquire new skills. They have just come out of school… they want to put into practice what they have learned.”
Sobowale instead proposed that NYSC should be used as a platform to educate young Nigerians on governance, civic responsibility, and the realities of democracy.
“We need to teach our youths how to marry technology with democracy.”
He warned that rising impatience among citizens fueled by the fast-paced nature of the digital age poses a threat to Nigeria’s democratic system.
“There is a culture of impatience with government and governance… and that is going to suffocate our democracy if we are not careful.”
According to him, many Nigerians expect instant results from government, failing to understand that democratic governance is a gradual process.
“Democracy is not a sprint… it’s a marathon.”
Sobowale stressed that this mindset should be corrected early, particularly during the NYSC year, which he described as a critical stage for shaping national consciousness.
He noted that while the original aim of the scheme was to promote unity after the civil war, evolving realities now require a shift in focus toward sustaining democratic stability.
“We can stop the rapid decline towards division through the NYSC.”
He also highlighted the influence of social media and digital technologies in shaping public opinion, warning that misinformation and unrealistic expectations could further destabilize governance if not addressed.
“Artificial intelligence can be used for good, bad, or ugly things… we must prepare our youth.”
Sobowale concluded that reforming the NYSC along these lines would help build a more informed, patient, and responsible citizenry capable of sustaining Nigeria’s democracy.
By Ojo Triumph
