If you have heard a Nigerian talk about "service year" or being a "corper", they are referring to the National Youth Service Corps, better known as the NYSC. It is one of the most familiar rites of passage in Nigerian life.

Why it was created

The NYSC was established on May 22, 1973, by decree under the military government of General Yakubu Gowon, a few years after the Nigerian Civil War. Its goal was to rebuild national unity by sending young graduates to live and work in parts of the country far from home, among people of different ethnic groups, languages and religions.

Who must serve

Graduates of universities and polytechnics who complete their studies before the age of 30 are required to serve for one year. A certificate of completion, or an exemption letter for those who qualify, is usually demanded by employers and for many government roles.

How the year works

  • Orientation camp: about three weeks of drills, parades, lectures and skills training in khaki uniforms.

  • Primary assignment: corps members are posted to schools, hospitals, banks, government offices and private firms, where they work for most of the year.

  • Community development: each corper takes part in a local project, from health campaigns to building repairs.

  • Passing out: the year ends with a ceremony and the discharge certificate.

Corps members receive a monthly federal allowance during the year.

Famous corpers

Many prominent Nigerians served as corps members. Comedian Okey Bakassi, for example, did his service year in Lagos at the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank after earning his engineering degree in 1992.

For global readers, the simplest way to understand the NYSC is this: it is a national service year that mixes the country's young graduates together, so that they meet Nigeria beyond their own home states.