Called to serve your motherland, a duty, an obligation, a sanction, a requirement, a prerequisite. What is it to you? We look towards our service year with anticipation or apprehension for various personal reasons, for some it’s a time to get paid, for others it’s a time to meet people and build up networks, for others it is a time to find opportunities in career building, yet for others the reason is simple, it’s a time to leave home and experience freedom from their parents strong hold. Also there are cases of those whose reasons are more noble, to experience other cultures and develop oneself.
The one thing people do not say often is to become independent financially, except a few. All of these things come to mind except the real reason for which we are called to service. Though we sing it in the NYSC anthem, still it eludes us. ‘Obey the clarion call…..lift our nation high.’ The real question is, WHAT SHOULD YOUR SERVICE YEAR BE TO YOU? As much as it should be a time to do or achieve all aforementioned, most importantly it is a time set out for you to serve your country, give back to your society and exercise your PATRIOTISM.
Need I remind you of the words of the anthem we sing at least once a week at our various CDS group? ‘with dedication and selflessness, NIGERIA is ours NIGERIA we serve’. It is all we are called to do; all others are secondary to that.
Our country is in its present state because we the youth do not play our role in the society, we complain and lament of how bad things are but when small opportunities are given to us we go the way of those people we complain about. What have we done in our own little way to make our beloved country a better place? Community development services are now a means of soliciting funds, a business venture. it is no longer about giving back, but finding a noble cause to raise funds for our personal needs, abandoning the projects half way just like government officials we spend time crucifying.
If we do not take the bull by the horns and begin to make conscious efforts to developing our immediate communities one step at a time, we will wake up to find nothing someday, no beloved country, no peace, nothing at all. Give back everyway you can, do not make it about what you can get. The time to act is now. Be a change maker and not a critic. Nigeria is our responsibility.
By Alero Sandra
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