A former member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has appealed for financial assistance after a road accident she suffered while returning from the orientation camp in 2021 left her permanently paralysed, a development that has renewed concerns about post-service welfare and support for corps members who suffer life-changing emergencies.
The former corps member, identified as Eniola, shared her experience in a video posted on TikTok by a close friend. In the emotional appeal, she narrated how her life changed after she was directed to leave the NYSC orientation camp in Akwa Ibom State because of illness.
According to Eniola, she became ill about two weeks after arriving at the camp and was advised to return home. However, tragedy struck during the journey when the vehicle she was travelling in was involved in a road accident.
She said she was the only survivor of the crash, but sustained a severe spinal cord injury that has left her unable to walk or move the lower part of her body.
The former corps member disclosed that she has remained bedridden for nearly five years, with no sensation from below her chest. She also revealed that she has continued to battle bedsores, a common complication associated with prolonged immobility.
She said in the video, “I can’t move my legs. I can’t walk. It will be five years by December. I lost sensation from below my breast downward.”
Beyond the physical pain, Eniola said the search for medical treatment has exposed her to further hardship. She alleged that several individuals who claimed they could treat spinal cord injuries took advantage of her condition by making promises they could not fulfil.
She added that one of her toes was eventually amputated after complications, while her affected leg now experiences painful electric shock-like sensations.
Despite the prolonged ordeal, Eniola expressed gratitude for surviving the accident. She described her survival as “a second chance” at life. She said her greatest desire is to recover the ability to walk again and appealed to Nigerians to support her treatment financially.
She pleaded, “If I can walk again, that would be a dream come true. I don’t even mind walking slowly. I just want to walk.”
Her appeal has also drawn attention to broader questions about the welfare architecture available to corps members who suffer permanent disabilities during or in connection with national service.
The NYSC scheme was established to promote national unity and national development by deploying graduates to different parts of the country. Corps members are expected to travel across states, often over long distances, as part of the programme.
While the scheme provides certain protections during service, cases involving severe injuries and long-term disabilities have repeatedly sparked public debate over whether existing welfare measures adequately cater for victims whose lives are permanently altered by such incidents.
Eniola’s case has revived calls for stronger institutional support for corps members facing medical emergencies. Stakeholders have argued that beyond monthly allowances and insurance arrangements, there should be a more robust framework that guarantees sustained medical care, rehabilitation, disability support, and reintegration for participants whose service ends in tragedy.
Her situation also presents a challenge to the Federal Government and the NYSC management to demonstrate that the duty of care owed to young Nigerians serving the country extends beyond the orientation camp and active service year.
As public sympathy continues to grow, many believe her case should prompt a review of existing welfare policies to ensure that no corps member battling permanent disability is left to depend solely on public donations for survival and treatment.
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