An Overview of My NYSC Experience: What You Should Know

Established in 1973, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) aimed to facilitate national integration after Nigeria suffered from a civil war that spanned from 1967-1970. The scheme's objectives were straightforward: to “reconcile, reconstruct, rehabilitate” and mend the lines of divide and distrust among Nigerians. Furthermore, the scheme aimed to instill discipline, a genuine sense of patriotism, and personal development in the youth service corps. Tertiary institution graduates below the age of 30 are the eligible candidates who are mobilized in batches A, B, and C, as well as Streams I & II, to undergo this tasking journey. They are then deployed across the six geopolitical zones of the country to undergo a three-week on-camp orientation followed by a one-year national service. 

Arriving at the Orientation Camp

Upon arriving at the Kaduna State temporary orientation camp, Government College, Kurmin Mashi, at sunset, I was greeted by different security officials at the gate, some clad in their respective uniforms, others not. Moving closer to them, I approached a personnel reclined in a white plastic chair, with a protruding belly. I inquired, "What do I need to show to get access to the camp?” With a friendly smile, he responded, “Your Call-Up Letter, please.” I swiftly opened my rucksack and presented it to him. He skimmed through the letter and nodded my clearance into the camp. 

Stepping into the camp, I was once again welcomed by an atmosphere full of anticipation and the promise of a new experience—a new hurdle to cross. We joined a queue where our luggage underwent a thorough search to take out any contraband. The moment we were cleared, we moved to the registration cubicle and registered our entry, thereby boarding a waiting bus that shuttled us to the camp store where we collected a bunk-size mattress before someone guided us to our designated hostel blocks for the rest of the three weeks.

Training Drills

The next morning, the distinctive sound of the lone bugle and erratic whistles awakened us from barely four hours of sleep. As the sounds drew near our block, I gently perched on the edge of my bed; the morning was too cold and I could feel cold wind wafting through the door and window openings. Nonetheless, I headed to the bathroom and grabbed a cold shower. 

It took me less than seven minutes to get ready and came out of the room with my file clung to my armpit and both hands dipped into my pocket. After praying Subh prayer, we then moved to the parade ground where we had light exercises to shake off the morning cold. We were then instructed to move to the Multi-Purpose Hall where we did the on-camp registration and collected our NYSC kits. That was when I realized that the journey had just begun. 

Parade Ground and SAED Program

At the parade ground, you will have to endure standing for hours under the scorching sun, watching parade exhibitions, or listening to debriefing by the Kaduna State NYSC Coordinator. This process proved to be a gauge of our resilience and the ability to work collectively, even in the face of overwhelming challenges. In essence, the parade ground became a platform where individual strengths are challenged and prepared for what the future may yield.

SAED is an acronym for Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development. It’s a program designed to help bridge the gap in youth unemployment in Nigeria by training them in hands-on skills that can help pay their bills. Varied groups of resource individuals and business owners were assembled to facilitate the implementation of the projects. 

Undoubtedly, the program had a meaningful intention; however, I have a fundamental observation regarding its duration. The program spanned almost six hours every day without a proper break, except for a not higher than 30-second body stretching. Honestly, as much as the program was meant to make a significant impact among the corps members, the timing was discouraging as I have found myself and seen other corps members fall asleep during the program, which was a concerning drawback in the objectives of the SAED. Besides, I interacted with countless corps members regarding their viewpoint on the SAED timing, they also asserted that the NYSC authorities should reconsider the approach. They added that dividing it into manageable chunks or providing sufficient resting intervals will enhance its efficacy. That way, corps members will be eager to attend the program, which will inevitably boost participation and eventually unveil highly skilled corps individuals. 

Social Nights

As an introverted person as well as not being a big fan of social nights, attendance while on camp was compulsory. The nights were full of indistinct noise, high-pitched music, and devilish laughter. Also, social nights gave corps members the platform to make new friends and showcase their talent, beauty, and culture through dance, music, and drama. Multiple sponsors and partners of the NYSC orientation program help facilitate the activities. 

Food

On the eve of my journey to the NYSC orientation camp, I was lucky to be informed about the life and food experience that proved to be priceless. The camp's main kitchen serves free food while in the Mami Market restaurants, you must pay for your meal. 

During my first few days, I tried more than five restaurants, in a quest to find the most delicious food. In all these restaurants, I was impressed by one adjacent to a Shawarma Truck. If I had to give them a rating on a 10-point scale, I would give them 8/10. That means their food was good, and the waitress was exceedingly friendly. 

On some other days, I ate my breakfast, lunch, and dinner from the food served in the camp's main kitchen. The kitchen food was generally palatable. To top it all off, if you are a prospective corps member, don't forget to carry a bottle of well-prepared “yaji” to spice up your food—you will thank me later. You may also need to go with extra milk and sugar, for the tea they serve in the kitchen is often sugar and milk less. Therefore, with these available options, you would not complain too much about food. 

Mami Market

The Mami Market is a bustling center where corps members can buy nearly everything they want. It’s also an environment serving as a refuge after undergoing grueling drills at the parade ground. But what caught my attention in the market was the way whistling calls from vendors will distract you—everyone wants you to buy something from their shop. Funnily, even if you showed a sign that you were just passing through the market, directly or indirectly a vendor will come after you so that in case you want to buy something next time, you can come to their shop, pointing an index finger towards the shop. 

The Toilet and Source of Water

Despite challenges at times, the cleanliness of the toilets and water supply were commendable throughout my stay in the camp. I had never experienced water shortage when I wanted to bathe, answer the call of nature, or wash PE clothes. The challenges that I faced were when I found long queues at the toilet/bathroom or someone refused to properly flush his mess—and that was understandable in an environment where diverse groups of people were clustered together. 

Inter Platoon Competition

In the last week of the program, the orientation culminated in inter-platoon competitions. This included the Miss NYSC, the macho man and the beauty pageant contest, the parade competition, the football and volleyball tournament, the cooking competition, cultural displays, etc. What made these events more engaging and remarkable was the roaring enthusiasm from the platoon 1-10 members. Every member chanted and sang the praises of their respective platoons. Thankfully, my platoon won the Miss NYSC and football tournament, as well as came fourth in the parade exhibition. I was delighted to be part of Platoon 8.

Conclusion

During the closing ceremony, corps members were dressed in their NYSC khakis, and assembled in their respective platoons at the parade ground, ready to participate in a lively procession. The arrival of honored guests, the platoons parade exhibition, the unarmed combat display, and the rendition of the National and  NYSC Anthem were emotional moments that were truly fulfilling. Ultimately, the program came to an end with corps members engaged in high-spirited jubilation. This was my NYSC story. I hope it informs you about the camp experience and what you should do in case you are about to embark on a similar journey. 

NB: I extend my love and sincere appreciation to everyone who directly or indirectly helped me attain this feat. You are the real MVPs. 👏👏