Honestly, from everything I’ve seen and heard, having your NYSC certificate actually matters a lot if you want a government job in Nigeria. Like, my older brother couldn’t even apply for half the jobs he wanted until he finished NYSC and got his certificate. It’s almost like a ticket you need, because nearly every official place will ask for it.

But at the same time, people complain that the service year itself can feel pointless, especially if you get posted somewhere random or to a job that doesn’t teach you much. My friend got posted to this rural office and mostly just did boring stuff, but she still needed that certificate for all the good jobs afterward. So, even if it feels useless while you’re doing it, the NYSC certificate is super important for getting anywhere with government jobs or even some private companies. If I’m honest, I wish there were more useful ways to actually build skills, but skipping NYSC isn’t an option if you want to work in most official places in Nigeria. It’s annoying, but that’s just how it is.