There is a beginning and an end to every phase of life. So much joy fills the heart of every undergraduate student upon completing their degree. After about four to six years in a tertiary institution, they finally get a breather from academic activities.
After completing undergraduate study, the expected step is enrollment in the National Youth Service Corps program (NYSC), where every Nigerian citizen is expected to serve the nation for a mandatory one year.
Usually, this is supposed to happen a few weeks or months after one completes undergraduate study, but recently, there has been an increase in this duration as recent graduates have to wait for months before the NYSC portal is opened for registration and, ultimately, the mobilisation of these young folks.
In some cases, graduates register for the national youth service program with a batch but are asked to wait for the next batch before they are mobilised for reasons best known to the Corps.
To avoid being a victim of the uncertainties that come with enrolling in the national youth service program and the delay that characterises the system in recent times, below are five productive activities you can engage in while awaiting enrolment.
1. Rest
I know you are shocked to see this topping the list, but rest is productive. It is a necessary part of a productive life. With all the stress that you experienced while you were an undergraduate in the Nigerian educational system and the engrossing activities that await you at the orientation camp, one of the most productive activities and the best thing you can do for yourself is to take adequate rest before you start your journey as a national youth corps member.
2. Internship opportunities
Another productive activity to engage in is to enroll in an internship program. There is a myriad of organisations that are willing to take in fresh graduates to provide them with industry-ready skill sets. While this will require diligence from you, this opportunity can come in handy in the future as some of these organisations can allow you to undergo your national youth service with them. If you prove yourself to be an asset to the organisation then you can rest assured that a job is awaiting you upon the completion of your service year.
3. Seek employment opportunities
While awaiting your mobilisation for the national youth service, you can take up remotely or physically job opportunities. While some employers might not agree with the idea of employing a recent graduate awaiting mobilisation because of the unpredictability of the NYSC calendar, remote jobs serve as succour. You can get remote jobs on platforms such as dailyremote.com, flexjobs.com, remoteok.co, weworkremotely.com, and hired.com.
Read Also:
4. Start a business
There is a saying that “if you don’t build your dreams, someone else will hire you to build theirs.” To make productive use of your time while awaiting enrolment for the National Youth Service Corps program, you can start a business.
All you need to do is identify a service or product in demand locally, such as selling fashion items, jewelry, snacks, drinks, tutorials, or other services that can help you use your time productively.
5. Learning new skills
Equipping yourself with the skills needed for your chosen career path is another productive activity.
If you feel that there are skills you only know theoretically while you were still an undergraduate that are pivotal to your career growth? Then, this period is the best time for you to engage in them practically.
If you already have these needed skills, then begin to monetise them. This will help improve your expertise in them and provide you with extra cash that can come in handy while in the orientation camp.
The list of productive activities to engage in while awaiting mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps is inexhaustible, but the ones listed above are the core productive activities that you can engage in. Engaging in these activities will make your waiting period more productive and prepare you for NYSC and beyond.
Tags: NYSC