NYSC Camp: The LAB Experience
Pam pa ran
Pam pa ran
Pa ran Pa ran
Pan pa pa ran
So I returned from the National Youth Service Corp mandatory 3 weeks camp last month, and it was one of my highlights of 2023. People have asked me, "How was camp?" And my response is always the same, "fine. " Not many folks expect that response, so I have taken it upon myself to share my experience with you here.
I will begin by admitting that I looked forward to my service year. I was a bit scared when it was rumoured last year that the NYSC was to be replaced with a year of compulsory military service. How would i survive? I used to hope that if the runour was true, I would be posted to the communications unit of the military. It would have been a swell plan either way. Thank God sha the way it went.
Obeying the clarion call
So after finishing school in July, we were mobilised and I already prepared for Batch C Stream 1. With support from the amazing Aster team and family, I was able to get the basic items; the white tees, white shorts, the pouch, rubber tennis shoes (my mum bought two, they’ve come in handy), a plastic bottle, and eatables, including a very important item, cassava flakes.
At this point, I’d like to answer the question: Where did I want to serve? To be honest, I was pretty much open to serving anywhere. I’d visited quite a number of states in Nigeria (thanks to fellowship waka), and the only places I’ve not really been to are states in the North. I’ve only been to Abuja and a small part of Nassarawa. So, going by the "you don’t get posted to where you’ve been before" rule, my prospects were far out there. Was I excited? Yes. However, I was already working here in Lagos, and with some responsibility at church, which I was just growing into, I wasn’t all that eager to leave.
I learnt a lot of things in 2023 as with other years, but the top most of it is that God can be trusted and that the blessing of following leading is in following the leading itself. Many folks would think serving in a far away area as an evangelist is the ideal way to go for a serious believer. I won’t dispute that, but sometimes, it is not always the norm for every believer. Generally, I was just open to travelling anywhere they posted me to.
So when posting letters for stream 1 came out early November and I was shifted to Stream 2 for no reason, I was unperturbed and carried on. Of course, I was pained that my experience was shited forward but I knew it would still come. I’ll also mention here that I haven’t taken a break ( don’t look at me with those lazy eyes, plix) since after school.
I left school after final exams in the middle of an ongoing magazine production (Mr precious stone, epp us nah), went home for barely a week and returned for project defense, and resumed work after. Not that my boss didn’t ask me to take my time o, my coconut head couldn’t bear to just stay at home when there was work to be done.
I resumed at a new place in October, but I was envisioning NYSC camp as a break from the routine of work and having to deal with responding to messages and all of that marketing pretties. I still remember what my classmates said when I said this. Innocent me. (Lol)
I was eventually deployed to Lagos. I finished from Unilag, by the way, and I’ve been going to work from Magboro, an Ogun state community on the outskirts of Lagos. Call-up letter came out like a thief in the night in the early hours of Wednesday, while camp was to resume on Thursday. So what did I do? I headed home to pack my suitcase (first time packing one), bought a new bucket, and headed for Iyana Ipaja orientation camp the next day. I took the railway service from Ibadan to Lagos. By the way, if we manage to maintain the railway service as it currently is, we would be on a very good thing.
Train took off from Moniya, and I alighted at Agege from where I boarded a vehicle straight to the camp. Not before getting a new jar of Aboniki balm. It’s like my trusty sidekick that goes almost everywhere with me. Really works well against insect irritations and nasal congestions(Anyone remember my advert for them in year 1?)
Moving on, the only attire I had apart from the stipulated whites was the Ankara I was putting on. I’m not sure I took a picture, but I have included one of me in that cloth above with my sister in the car.
Before I go on, I’ll share here what I packed possibly to guide PCMs (prospective corp members) like Jahzpraise. You’re welcome, brutha.
- 4 pairs of white shirts and shorts. These will be your uniform all the days of your life in Lagos camp. The only time you'll wear something else is on cultural carnival day or if you're dressing up for a competition. No mufti, not even on Sunday.
- White rubber sneakers. You’ll be given white tennis shoes, but I haven’t worn mine yet. I had my crocs for indoors, too. They came in handy for my stage drama.
- Indoor wear, underwear, bathing, and body care essentials
- Books, a few church jotters I'd previously used (just to read), my bible,
- Stationery, a clear bag, some office pins, plenty pens,
- Provisions, plate , bottle and pouch.
- Phone, powerbank, charger (Veery necessary)
- Additionally, if you would be partaking in other camp activities like pageants and sports, you would do well to have other essentials that you would need.
Arrival at Camp
Arriving at the gates had me feeling like a superhero. Let me explain.
Some Lagosians had taken the occasion as a business opportunity to solve problems of forgetting to bring along items for registration. They flocked around me, hoping to get me to buy something. "Corper, you will need padlock." I have two from home. "Buy bucket" see the one I’m carrying. 'Marker nko?’, I have two. Buy biro "I have a dozen" (thanks to Juwonffs). This guy came prepared.
Out of peer pressure sha, I bought a nylon bag and two ropes for holding perforated files (what are they called?) I did not use the latter, I eventually gave them out. Good for the guys that used it, I guess?
Anyone who’s trying to prepare you for NYSC camp would tell you to prepare for long queues while registering. They’re not far from the truth, just that in my case, I arrived early, so the chairs were still arranged and there weren’t many people. I had a good start. So imagine how startled I was when in the third registration stage, the medical personnel told me I wouldn’t be allowed in camp because my blood pressure read high. Kilode?
To Be Continued
Thank you for reading so far!
I’ll release this in intervals so as to break up the long read. If you want me to send a personalized reminder or answer something about NYSC camping in the next post, you can drop a comment or reach out. The second part is available here.
