JOURNALS

ABSTRACT

The root of the factors leading to the establishment of the NYSC scheme stretched to the pre-colonial, colonial and immediate post-independence history and experience of the Nigerian state marked by the manifestations of ethnic loyalties, mutual group suspicions and distrust. These arose from Nigeria's diverse nature, and the need for catalyzing national unity and integration. These were further reinforced by the urgent need for the youth mobilization as part of the capacity building strategies for national development, nation-building and combating, the forces of poverty, mass illiteracy, and shortage of high skilled manpower, coupled with the urgent desire to tackle the 1 phenomenon of uneven distribution of available skilled manpower in the country . This paper attempts to portray the socio-economic gains of the NYSC camp in Umunya community. The methodology of this paper is based on analysis of available data, using primary and secondary sources. The paper attempts to trace the history of the NYSC, the activities of NYSC at Umunya camp and the contributions of the camp to Umunya Community. No doubt, the presence of the camp has had both positive and negative effects on the community. The paper, therefore, concludes that the presence of the camp has however, brought substantial development in Umunya Community.