My Experience: NYSC Camp Ogun State

After waiting for almost a year after I wrote my degree exams, I got called up for the National youth service corps popularly known as NYSC and was posted to Nysc Camp Ogun State. If you don’t know what Nysc is all about, it’s a national exercise carried out by all Nigerian first-degree graduates who graduated before the age of 30. It’s a compulsory one year service where you render your services to the nation for a squabby pay of 19,800 Naira only. I think the best way to describe it to non-Nigerians, is to call it some sort of social work or community service. The government try as much as possible to send you to different parts of Nigeria to enable you to learn the culture of the place, learn adaptability and hence help foster unity amongst the staggering 200+ ethnic groups in Nigeria.

My Experience in Ogun State Nysc camp 

Arrival and Registration

Nysc camp Ogun state was to open on the 28th of August but because I’ve heard so many stories such as how one must carry his or her luggage on their head as punishment for arriving late. I left for Ogun State on the 27th of August 2018 after making plans with the darling Alice to spend the night at her family house. Where I was treated like a princess. I left for camp from there and arrived camp at precisely 9:26 am. After the mandatory stop and search, we were led into the Nysc camp Ogun State grounds where we are to spend the next 21 days, prepared to serve our nation.

Ogun state Nysc Camp Registration

After arrival, we were directed to the hostels where we began our registration and secured a bed space before proceeding back to the multipurpose Hall for the main registration. This part was particularly stressful and it reminded me so much of the stress I went through in my final week in school. However, the people attending to us were fast excluding the man who kept us queueing for close to 20 minutes simply because he was receiving a call. By 12 pm, I had finished with the registration procedures and I went to my hostel to sleep before the most frustrating instrument was played- the beagle.

Swearing-In

This took place on a Friday, 3 days after we arrived in camp. We were made to wear our 7/7, that is the complete NYSC attire (Trouser, Jacket, Vest, Cap, Socks, Belt & Boots) 

Unfortunately, I couldn’t wear the complete fit as the boots I was given were rotten. I wore my white sneakers and attended the swearing-in. 

The swearing-in was so stressful, we had to stand under the sun for hours while speeches were given, dignitaries recognised and all. Talk about staying true to the anthem ” Under the sun & rain” 

Activities

There were a lot of activities in the camp. But the major ones were

• Morning meditation
• Parades
• Breakfast/lunch/dinner times
• Lectures/Saed and
• Social activities

Morning meditation kicked off at 5 am for the 21 days we spent in camp. After which we had the man o war drills which were actually fun and next came the dreaded parades which were no fun at all!

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner 

Breakfast was at 7 am daily, lunch at 1 pm and dinner at 7 pm. Food was served at the camp kitchen. It was mandatory to come for your food wearing the appropriate Nysc attire, either your branded vest or the compulsory white shirt on white short, 

for those who detested camp food, there was the option of Maami market: a little camp market where all sorts were sold from food to provisions and much more. 

Lectures & SAED 

Arguably the most boring camp activity. The lectures were awfully long and rowdy. The SAED practical classes in my camp were always short. However, I encourage corp members to learn a skill or two during the Saed training.

Social activities

There were several social activities to partake in. There was band activities, Man o’ war, drama and dance presentations, sports etc.

End of Camp

On the last day, we queued up to receive our posting letters and headed to our various Place of primary assignments. I was luckily posted to a town unlike some of my friends who were posted to remote villages.

Over all, i throughly enjoyed the 21 days spent in camp. I made many friends, I was well-loved in my Platoon. I miss the maami market, it was always bubbly.

Ogun State Nysc Camp is one of the finest and neatest Nysc camps in the country. I loved it there.

Advice to intending corps members

Congratulations if you’ve received your call-up letter, here’s my best advice for you- BE OPEN, to changes, new cultures, meeting people from different tribes, learning new things, trying out new delicacies and most importantly making the best of your service year.

N.B- I served in 2018/2019, I wrote the first draft of this post on September 24, 2018, and forgot about it. I went back to it, today April 28, 2020. I passed out in July 2019.

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