A young Nigerian woman currently serving in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has sparked a major conversation online after revealing the immense difficulty she faced securing a Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) because of her university degree.
The Viral TikTok Lament
In a candid video posted on TikTok, the corps member, identified as Ndayeabasi Oko, expressed deep frustration. She attributed her struggle to find a posting after the orientation camp directly to her course of study at university: Microbiology.
She revealed that her search for a company or institution willing to accept a Microbiology graduate for the mandatory one-year service has been met with constant rejection. "To find where they go accept you for service, you go suffer," she lamented in the video, which was posted in early January 2026.
A Warning to Future Students
Feeling regretful about her academic choice, the young lady issued a stark warning to others. She directly advised students who have not yet entered university or are just starting a Microbiology program to consider changing their course to avoid a similar fate.
"You see that thing wey they dey use tell us say you are studying a stupid course, is when you are going for NYSC that you will know," she said, berating the perceived value of her degree in the current job market. Her video concluded with her resolve to continue her search the following day.
Mixed Reactions from Nigerians
The viral video drew a flood of reactions from Nigerians on social media, highlighting a divided experience among graduates. While many empathized with her struggle, others shared contrasting success stories.
Some comments agreed with her sentiment, with one user, Ummieyy, stating, "You see that course Biochemistry, na that course useless pass for Nigeria." Another commenter, LAST_SON, shared a personal story of changing schools and courses after similar realizations.
However, not all experiences were negative. User A_nanti countered with a success story: "Aswear, I studied computer engineering and got posted to an airline after service I got retained as a system analyst God used NYSC bless me." Another user, Flora, simply stated, "I studied Microbiology, and they posted me to a pharmaceutical company."
The conversation underscores the ongoing challenges many Nigerian graduates face in transitioning from university to the workforce, with the NYSC year often serving as a stark reality check. The debate continues on whether the issue lies with specific courses, the structure of the PPA system, or the broader employment landscape in the country.
