Corpers We!!!

Tomide Oladipo
Aug 22, 2017 · 4 min read

The clarion call sounded all of a sudden on Thursday 20th July, for the 2017 Batch A Stream II prospective members to report to camp the following Wednesday.

Immediately I got the news, I checked the portal and behold I was posted to Ekiti State, which was a miracle because I lived in Akure, Ondo State, meaning less stress during my service year after all.

Preparation for camp started which included buying all the thing I needed for camp and watching NYSC camp tutorial videos. I got to camp located at Ise-Orun, Ekiti, battle ready, strapped up to the neck with ammunition. I registered promptly, thanks to the e-Registration Portal (Kudos to NYSC and the portal developers). A slip, a code card which indicated I was in platoon 10, over-sized NYSC uniform, undersized boots, and a decent NYSC cap were given to me. I made my way to my room, located a nice bunk space and immediately started unpacking. I noticed two boys having what seemed like an argument, I greeted Mubarak and Abdul Jabbar and we immediately started talking, them narrating their journeys from Kano to Ekiti,shooting jokes, and getting to know each other.

Essentially this is what I think is the most important objective of the scheme which is unifying the Nigerian youths, putting different people from different cultures, backgrounds, religion, mindset, gender, in a safe environment and letting them become otondos.

Nothing could have prepared me for the coming week as time seemed to drag on slowly as each morning, we had to wake up by 4:30 AM to prepare for parade (except for the bahd guys who just stabbed), drills, exercises, and the most boring lectures I ever attended.

Eventually, I made friends from my platoon, in my room which had about 40 corp members sleeping under the same roof, bonding over how “good” food, sharing our experiences, opinions, views, cultures and differences, arguing about politics, sports, food, and competing for the best R.S.M. mimics.

By the second week,my body had adjusted to its new reality, all of a sudden, the food tasted better, time was moving faster and the interesting events started including the marching drills competition (which I was a part of), cultural dance competition, football and volleyball cup, mami market parties, and the talent show.

Eventually, the camp drew to a close, with my platoon becoming the best platoon (Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!), the camp was concluded with a dope ass closing march parade ceremony, we collected our posting letter.

Camp was stressfull and fun but the keypoint of it all was in the words of our R.S.M.

“Mufti is not allowed on camp, you all are white fowls, the reason is to unite the country, different people from Nigeria coming together as one, a Yoruba woman eating the same food as an Ibo man, a Fulani girl wearing the same clothes as an Edo man” — R.S.M, Ekiti NYSC Orientation Camp 2017 Batch A Stream II

I’m grateful for the experience, it was an eye-opener, come to think of it if not of camp , i would never have heard these words “…Boko-Haram are not real Muslims, they just hide under the Islam umbrella to do evil. Else why would they bomb mosques…” — Suleiman

The important lesson i learned which i would love all Nigerians to adopt is the appreciation and love for people even if we don’t believe in the same God, or we don’t speak the same language. After all, We are all ONE.

As i look forward to a great NYSC year, these are some tips on how to enjoy camp.

  1. For females who want to skip camp or redeploy, just get married or get pregnant.
  2. For males who want to skip camp, develop asthma, ulcer and the symtopms and request for an exeat. Also helps for easy redeployment.
  3. Make friends with everybody, including corp members, soldiers, cleaners, mamishians.
  4. Take provision, money or both to camp. Thank me later.
  5. Take to camp white t-shirts ,shorts, and a pair of white sneakers.
  6. Have budgets for slimfitting/increasing NYSC uniform as the case may be and phone charging.
  7. If you don’t have money, run away from Mami market.
  8. Join OBS, Red Cross,Quarter guard or the Band.
  9. Participate in at least one of the activities.
  10. Please don’t take your laptop or any expensive gagdet to camp except its sure for you.
  11. Please don’t have sex in camp except your head dey there.
  12. Turn up to the MAX!!!

)

Thanks to Banjo Mofesola Paul

Tomide Oladipo

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