Many young Nigerians see NYSC as a one‑year ritual — khaki, clearance, CDS, and monthly allowances. But my experience taught me something deeper. National service is not about the uniform. It is about the impact made while wearing it… It is about recognising problems around us and choosing to act. It is about using our skills, creativity and passion to improve communities. It is about leaving behind footprints that outlive the service year.
A week before the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, I walked into the PRNigeria Centre expecting nothing more than another ordinary newsroom assignment. I had no idea that a simple instruction — “Put on your khaki; we’re heading out” — would pull me into an experience that would redefine my understanding of national service and the responsibility that comes with wearing the NYSC uniform.
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The PRNigeria Centre is not a typical newsroom. It is a place where ideas breathe, where books are born, and where young people are challenged to think beyond headlines. Corps members do not just file reports; they write books, lead campaigns and contribute to national conversations. I had seen this culture firsthand through publications like Youth Service for National Stability, Diplomacy and Digital Innovation, and anti‑drug, anti‑smuggling campaigns. These works, authored by corps members, made me quietly determined to leave my own mark before my service year ends.
But I did not expect that opportunity to arrive so suddenly.
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Our destination was the NDLEA FCT Command, where Deputy Commander Aliyu Omama joined us before we proceeded to Parliament Secondary School and Government Secondary School, Apo. The mission was simple: educate students about the dangers of drug abuse under a campaign titled “Promoting Drug‑Free Schools: A Corper Initiative.”
The initiative was led by Abdulhameed Yushau Shuaib, a fellow Mass Communication graduate from Bayero University, Kano, serving at NITDA. Listening to him speak, I realised this was not just another awareness programme. It was a heartfelt intervention driven by a young Nigerian who refused to watch his peers fall victim to addiction, peer pressure and the deceptive glamour of drug use on social media.
What struck me most was his conviction. He was not complaining about the problem — he was confronting it.
Deputy Commander Omama delivered a message that was both sobering and necessary. He explained how drug abuse fuels domestic violence, armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry and other crimes that plague our society. He listed commonly abused substances — cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine — using both scientific names and street slang the students recognised instantly.
Yet he did not present addiction as a dead end. He spoke about rehabilitation, recovery and reintegration, reminding the students that help exists, but prevention is always better than cure. His final message was simple: never experiment with drugs.
Representing NITDA’s Director General, Mrs Deborah Dada urged the students to reject drugs and embrace digital skills. She reminded them that technology offers limitless opportunities, which are far more rewarding than any temporary high. Her praise for Abdulhameed’s initiative underscored a powerful truth: national service is not about where you are posted, but what you choose to do with your posting.
Their engagement surprised me. They asked thoughtful questions, exchanged contacts, and expressed genuine interest in future programmes. I left the schools convinced that something meaningful had begun.
But the campaign was only halfway done.
Then came a competition that became a movement. An essay and quiz competition was announced across FCT schools. The response was overwhelming: 87 essays submitted. Editors reviewed each one carefully, screening out plagiarism and AI‑generated content to reward originality and genuine understanding.
On 26 June — the UN Day Against Drug Abuse — the grand finale took place at the PRNigeria Centre.
Ozor Kamsy of Federal Government Boys College, Wuye won the essay competition, followed by Arafat Ismail and Nafisat Abbas. Their presentations showed depth, clarity and a maturity far beyond their age.
The quiz competition was equally intense. Questions covered causes, consequences, prevention, rehabilitation and global efforts against drug abuse. As I watched, I realised how much I still had to learn.
Jamal Oyawoye of Badr Integrated School emerged winner, with Nicodemus Gideon and Salma Musa taking second and third place.
This is a campaign with a future. Partner organisations pledged to sustain the initiative. The Programme Coordinator of Youth Against Disaster Initiatives (YADI), Umar Farouk Bala, announced plans to expand future editions to include disaster preparedness, digital citizenship and public safety. NYSC representative, Mrs Rukayya Abu, praised the organisers and described Abdulhameed’s project as a shining example of meaningful national service.
Her words captured the essence of everything I had witnessed. The True Meaning of National Service.
Many young Nigerians see NYSC as a one‑year ritual — khaki, clearance, CDS, and monthly allowances. But my experience taught me something deeper. National service is not about the uniform. It is about the impact made while wearing it.
It is about recognising problems around us and choosing to act. It is about using our skills, creativity and passion to improve communities. It is about leaving behind footprints that outlive the service year.
That single instruction to wear my khaki took me beyond the newsroom and into a movement. It showed me the power of youth-led advocacy and reminded me that the true measure of NYSC is not the duration of service, but the difference made during it.
I arrived expecting a routine assignment. I left with a renewed understanding of responsibility, purpose and the transformative power of national service.
Fatih Lawal‑Garu is a Corps member serving in Abuja. Email: [email protected]
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