The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was established in 1973 by the Nigerian government under General Yakubu Gowon. The goal was to foster national unity and rebuild the country after the civil war.
The first NYSC orientation camp in Nigeria was located at Awgu in the old East Central State, now part of Enugu State. It served as the launch pad for the very first batch of corps members, referred to as Batch A 1973.
This camp set the tone for future orientation programs by introducing paramilitary drills, lectures on national integration, and community development initiatives. The pioneer corps members went through weeks of training and education before being deployed across different regions of Nigeria.
Since then, NYSC camps have spread to all 36 states and the FCT, but Awgu remains a historical landmark. The choice of location symbolized the government’s commitment to rebuilding trust and unity among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups.
Today, while many may not know the exact location of where NYSC began, the legacy of that first camp lives on in the over 4 million graduates who have served the nation through the scheme…….CONTINUE READING