My Experience at NYSC Camp, Rivers State

I’ve promised to share my experience at NYSC Orientation Camp, Nonwa – Gbam Tai LGA, Rivers State, starting from the official date of resumption to the last day of camping with my WhatsApp status audience, but this looks too much for WhatsApp status to handle, and it also a good place to launch my blog after loads of procrastination. I may not keep track of every event in this write-up well enough, but trust me to always thrill you with the most interesting part of my experience. Follow me shortly…

It was officially announced that all Prospective Corps Members (PCM) should report to the camp on the 20^th of August, 2019, but base on who I be, I added a day to mine, not intentional though.

For those a bit close to me, you will recall I had already settled for registering with Batch C because I needed to get myself together and not after the whole final year drama. I wanted to make enough money on my own before I go to serve my beloved nation, at least to cater for myself and possibly the new friends I will be making in the 3 weeks camping. But as fate would have it, everything I planned doing didn’t work out as planned and it felt as though I was wasting away, sitting at home all day, doing absolutely nothing lucrative other to sleep, eat, wake-up and the cycle continued till I added work-out and guitar training to it and seldom helping mum in the shop as well, just to avoid being idle. In all sincerity, I wasn’t enjoying those moment one bit – aside my work out and guitar training - and it felt as though I was wasting away judicious time, this mixed feelings prompted me to having a rethink about registering for NYSC. Though I wasn’t yet convinced it was the next step for me to take, but one thing is crystal clear, and it’s the fact that I was tired of being idle, makes me feel more like a liability already, even if no one complained or tell it to my face in words or act, I just can’t stop feeling the urge of being grown enough to cater for myself,  being independent to some extent coupled with the fact that my needs are now very enormous for my parents to make provision for. I eventually resolved to registering for NYSC, and thanks to the long postponement of Batch B Stream 2 PCMs registration, that gave enough time to think it through over again before finally taking the bold step.

I was on the island (Lagos) the very day I registered meanwhile my credentials were on the mainland, fortunate for me my cousin was around to help me send every information I will be needing to complete my registration. If you pay rapt attention to my picture on NYSC dashboard, you will have a clue of what registration looks like for me. The picture looks so rough, but wetin guy man go do? Same picture is used on my NYSC ID card, but what to do? we go rough am like that as e be, all die na die. I did pick four states of deployment in the course of registration just like every other person, which are: Oyo, Kogi, Rivers and Kano state.

In the time of waiting for where I would be posted, I was trying to process being posted to Lagos as a guy man who has lived in Lagos all his life and to the only time out of Lagos all by myself was schooling in Ogun state. I was one of those that complains bitterly about being tired of staying in Lagos, but if you ask me where I want to be posted for NYSC, my guy! I would still pick Lagos anytime, any day… the perfect definition of we die here! My phone started malfunctioning as at then and it got bad completely before I was posted, so I have to be at the mercy of someone else, using his phone to get updated and involved in the whole process of checking back to know where I belong. I checked eventually on a fateful day and saw Rivers state, meanwhile I was expecting either Oyo or Kano. I didn’t feel bad about it at first getting to know Port Harcourt is involved, quite interesting I thought to myself and after sharing with my family members most especially my mum’s elder brother whose place I was staying at Lekki (Lagos island) as at then; he’s a retired soldier and has traveled across the country and beyond. He encouraged that I would eventually fall in love with the place and somewhat talked me out of the thought of serving in Lagos. In our discussion, his wife was present and she added jokingly that I don’t want to leave Lagos because of my girlfriend, I laughed deep down with a smile on my face that reads you dunno watz goin on… you dunno abbatit. The man added, “if that’s the case, you will see more beautiful girls in Rivers state and have your way around them as much as you want, but don’t let them ruin you, just be focused and don’t be carried away” while I was nodding my head and taking in the fatherly advice so well, he further said that “I trust you anyway, I know you’re not that kind of a boy”, I laughed again, if and only if you know my thoughts sir, not of evil though, but I doubt it’s for good as well, I will just simply say it’s in the middle of good and evil. I hope my joke there is well taken in?

The day for me to travel was fast approaching, but I was slow in my preparations for whatever reason I don’t know still I kept on waiting till the final minutes to get things done in haste. The very day stated for PCMs to resume in camp was the day I got all the things I will be needing, though should have done that days before, but the engineer ought to fix the phone I will be travelling with messed me up and made me stay back till the next day. Truth be told, I can give up my travelling then if I couldn’t get a smart phone, like what exactly am I going there to do without a good phone. I bought another battery for the phone so as to be on a safe side and get all desired satisfaction. The phone engineer at “Alaba market” did me wrong that I have to go down to Ikeja that same day to get the phone well fixed. Did that on my way back from Jibowu to ask for the price of transportation by road to Port Harcourt. On that same day, I don’t have my medical certificate yet, and what delayed this was the information I got from senior colleagues that NYSC rejected a lot of fake medical reports , and to be on a safe side I had to start making plans to get a genuine one. I toured the whole of Lagos on that very day while my peers are already settled down in camp. I eventually got settled down by 10pm that very day and I started preparing for my journey immediately so as not to forget anything I will be needing in camp and for my journey. Thanks to my aunt, grandma and some of my cousins for helping me prepare well and making sure I’m not leaving anything behind, left for me I was already in a world of my own, so tired, exhausted, devastated and half way in wonder land after a long and stressful day.
I decided to get a sleep when done with the packing up, but I couldn’t reason been that it’s my first time of traveling that far all alone and I will confess I was a bit nervous and optimistic. By 3AM, I had to get up from the bed to take my bath and start preparing for the long journey. My aunt led a prayer session that were so timely as much as very needed to calm my nerves, even though I said some personal prayers on my own as well, more like it’s customary for me whenever I’m embarking on a journey regardless of the distance. I went outside the house some minutes past 4AM to check if the street’s main gate is opened, and fortunately it was open, so I came back in waited till few minutes to 5 then picked up my luggage with the help of my aunt on a very quiet and lonely road at that hour of the day, but with one mind I moved, despite the risk at stake. While trying to move two steps ahead and get to a safe and busier road, I saw a bike man and I boarded it in no time because that very place is very dangerous at hours like that.
On getting to Oshodi market, it looks like it’s day break already, everywhere was so busy and noisy already compared to where I was coming from in Mafoluku. I board a bus going to Yaba, getting the bus filled up with passengers took like forever in my eyes, maybe because I was conscious of not missing out on the first bus as I’ve been warned. I eventually got to Jibowu, I had to take a tricycle (keke Napep) down to where G. AGOFURE MOTORs’ park is and I happened to be No. 10 on the list for the first bus. I didn’t keep track of the exact time the bus moved, but we’ve not gone too far when I decided to check my time, and it was about 12mins to 7AM, so I presume we moved by 6:45.

Hope you're still following?

You guys remembered I bought another battery for my borrowed TECNO W3 (yes, the phone wasn’t mine) not to have a boring journey and stay in camp, also, I traveled with two books because I didn’t trust the phone and the two batteries, well, I wasn’t disappointed, the first battery failed me woefully. I had to keep the other charged battery safe so I can tell my WhatsApp fam that I arrived safely. I resolved to my smaller phone (that guy saved my life all through the journey and camping days). I inserted my memory card into it as well with my ear phone plugged in my ear, and that was it for me.

I forgot to mention how spirit filled my journey was, lol, I know you’re quite surprised. Before leaving the park, we had a sermon by one sweet-mouthed Edo man, like that’s not enough, the driver been a Warri man (got to know this from him during the journey) asked someone to pray for us, and the woman took like forever to complete the prayer session, afterwards another man preached for a while and prayed as well. While I wanted to put my ear phones back on, driver started playing some spirit filled worship songs that I couldn’t help but be a part of. It felt like a heaven on earth experience. We were only three young persons in the bus, I asked if any of them were going for NYSC as well, it happens to be that I was the only one heading the Nonwa-Gbam Tai way, and my thought said to me “guy! Na only u neva resume for camp”. That very moment I knew I was on my own, but no shaking, I go dey alright las las.

I sat beside a lady and she looked like all those serious and no-nonsense aunts, trust me to always mind my business and the book I was with made that easier, even though I struggled really hard to read it, but all thanks to my music play list for being there for me.  On the long run, we actually got talking and she’s such a sweet soul.

After all the prayer session and devotion, everyone just minded their business enjoying and singing along with the praise and worship songs airing from the speakers of the bus and no one I observed talking to another except on some casual and unusual cases and for the case of a woman traveling with three of her kids that were disturbing behind me. As we go ahead, everyone started talking and having a good time, though we were close to our destination.

At the first break stop at Ore, I only spoke with the dude seated next to the driver hoping that he is well acquainted to the state and could be of great help to me giving the right description to get to find my way from PH. He said the little he knew and then directed me to the driver, with the way the driver responded I was a bit convinced he doesn’t know the exact place I was going, but he sure spoke like someone willing to help, which gave me some surge of hope and a sense of being in the right company.

We left Ore and headed to Edo state, the bus even passed through UNIBEN’s school gate and for the first time I saw where the much talked about UNIBEN is. Although, a friend of mine studying there is fond of saying my school is a stone throw from my house while she described travelling down to Benin as though it’s a journey of no return the same day. My journey down that day proved her wrong about the distance. It’s no doubt that UNIBEN is farther than my school, but not as far as she had said, or maybe there was too much emphasis and exaggeration in my understanding of her claim and instances.
The amusing part of the journey through Edo state was that, at some point I felt we are not going to leave that state that very day again, because for over three hours, every sign board keeps reading Edo state, and it made me wonder why Edo is not the biggest state in Nigeria. I spent the most time at particular state in Edo state, compared to every other states we passed through.

In a journey that looks like there was no end to it, we finally entered Delta state. On seeing sign posts that reads NIGER DELTA STATE, fear gripped me at first, guess what was the pointer to my fear? … My thoughts filled with the stories we read and hear about this place on the internet of how gun men will block the road fully armed causing chaos and serial killings, but nothing of such happened, to God be my Glory, Amen.
In what looks like a smooth journey through Delta state, few distance away from Warri, as I eavesdropped from the driver and the dude beside him, we arrived at a police check-point. I forgot to mention as many military stops we saw, I didn’t keep count though, but none stopped us aside this particular one. At first, a police man and the driver were joking as though they knew each other before and while the driver was about to move on, another police asked him to park well and he and every other person in the bus tried to explain to the police that he (the driver) and his other military man were just joking and there was nothing serious going on. The man in question pressed P + Shift (took it personal), while the driver was trying to signal the other police man he was joking with earlier to come to his aid, he denied the driver and pretend as though he didn’t hear him, that was when I knew we are in for some serious trouble. Women in the bus started murmuring, and one beside me said police men don’t stop G. AGOFURE MOTORS on a norm, that it’s unusual to experience such delay from police. The Driver parked well as instructed and came down, to open the door for them, they peeped inside the bus, searched some nearby bags, then one of them sighted me seated in a corner, observing and enjoying the moment, then out of many others in the bus, he called me out and asked for my bag, he searched thoroughly, when he didn’t see anything, he wanted to search my body, then he saw my school ID card on me, and saw my middle name BLESSING, then joked about it, and that ended the scenario and I went back into the bus quite embarrassed. It could have been a different case if something fishy was found on me. This implies that the term “police is your friend” is a big scam… I didn’t say that please.  Afterwards, we had our second break stop-over and I bought suya because that was the only enticing thing to my fantasy, but I was disappointed, I didn’t enjoy the suya at all, it was too strong for my liking, but as per who I be, my money cannot come and waste, local man devoured the roasted meat without a second thought, with the mind-set, “all die na die”.

We got to Bayelsa, and I saw a linked road to Yenogoa - I got to know this through a sign post. There was no much event here aside the fact that a trailer got stocked on the road and it covered the road that the driver has to manage pass the road side with the bus bent sideways before so we could pass through. Another notable thing here is that, Timaya’s song about Bayelsa and killings played in my head till the driver finally asked someone to pray for a safe landing, and then another prayer session started down to when I saw a sign board that reads UNIPORT, then I see a need for the prayer.
The driver stopped at CHOBA for some people to get down, saying his final bus stop is WATERLINE, I wanted to go down as well according to the description given by the guy I spoke with at Ore, with the mind-set of finding my way to the orientation camp or spending the night at a friend’s place, a student of UNIPORT, so I guess he stays close. I called his line, but there was no response, so I had to resolve to the second option. I was rescued by every other person in the bus when I told them where I was going to, they told me the best and easiest route for me is through waterline so I followed down to waterline. On our way to waterline, driver switched from gospel songs to gbedu wey dey burst brain. The first song he played still fresh in my memory, it is the South African song we Nigerians named “Bode Thomas… No matter where you go, remember the road that will lead you home”. There was massive traffic on the road to waterline, and it got me and the lady sitting beside me getting along well, to the point that she and every other person were worried for me because I’m still going far and it’s getting late already and we are stocked in traffic. The lady asked for my contact so she could keep track of my journey and be sure I’m safe because where I was going is said to be a very dangerous place, every other person in the bus also attest to this. Thanks to a woman who actually knew a shorter route and a way to get out of the traffic jam, she then directed the driver through another route and finally we got to waterline. The lady beside me goes by the name Mercy – I got to know this after I had settled down a bit in camp on my second day of arrival, it implies all through the journey I didn’t know her name, she only knew mine when I gave her my number -. that lady was my saviour that night. I was welcomed into PH by rain, although another woman in the bus voluntarily gave me the offer of spending the night at her place so to rest well and continue my journey the next day, which I honourably declined with the excuse that registration closes that night, it was actually a genuine one, otherwise, I would have accepted her offer without a second thought.

Mercy helped find my way in the heavy rain and on getting a bus, she introduced me to the conductor as her brother who doesn’t know his way too well that he should drop me at one “Tank Junction” like that. She asked if he was going her way, and the bus conductor said yes, so she entered and came down after few distance and we waved and gestured goodbye.
In this bus, it feels as though my journey just started. Need I forgot to say that I got the highest number of received calls in my life that very day. In my confused state in a strange place, I overheard a man going same place with me, so I felt a bit relieved. I felt we were getting close because the bus was becoming empty and the conductor stopped calling in for more passengers. I told the man that I don't know my way too well, then he responded by saying that he knew I’m a stranger the moment my phone was ringing every now then and mum, dad, grandma, aunt etc were popping up on my call list. He assured me not to worry too much, that he’s heading same direction as well. We came down from the bus and finally entered a car going to Nonwa-Gbam Tai, and the man told me the story of his days as a corps member till I got to where I will stop while he continued his journey with the same car.

I met another guy going same place with me in the car, and on getting down I met my first friend already. It started raining heavily already when I got down from the car that I have to stay under shade for a while because there was no bike man in view, effect of the rain I guess. Under this shade was where I met the great man named TAIWO.

I will do proper briefing about every different personality I met in camp as time goes by, and how loving they were to me. For now, let me to continue with how my journey folds.

The rain did stop eventually, myself and Taiwo board a bike to convey us to the camp, I was sitting at the back with my travelling box on one hand, you can relate how uncomfortable that would for me. It was not a far distance as I first thought, we got to the camp gate, entered and they searched our bags before we were given entry number. We went down to get a slip for hostel accommodation  and from there I met another friend named CHINEDU, dude actually helped me with one of my bags, because I had three bags on me, a bag pack containing some minors, a traveling box containing most needed stuffs for camping and the few days after camping - I’ve decided to stay with my friend in UNIPORT for about a week and have a good time before traveling back to Lagos. The one he helped me with was a sack bag I had my bucket in, I traveled down with it all the way from Lagos. Chinedu’s help was so timely because the ground was so damp and not pleasant enough to drag my traveling box on, this implies I had to lift it up despite how tired I was. I eventually had to drag it down to hostel E3 where me, Chinedu, Taiwo and some other guys we came in together was allocated to.
I was so tired that I forgot about registration after settling in with my load, getting a bed space and arranging it for a much-needed rest after a long day, not to forget I needed to feed my warms that has disrupted my stomach already. We were about 6 in number that went to the maami market together, and I was really stunned by what I saw and how the place was structured. My expectation is likened to the usual food shell in secondary school kind of setting, but it was a big upgrade and there was absolutely no service you needed that you won’t get there. We actually settled for a shop to eat a plate of swallow each, I ate fufu with Chinedu, while others ate garri – eba. After filling our stomach, it gave us strength and triggered us to go get our registration done so we could at least get our kit that night because the next day is said to be swearing-in, and registration was generally believed to end that day. On our way down to the registration hall, light – out time caught up with us unaware and we were sent back to the hostel saying we should come for registration the next day as they’ve closed for the day. We were not so cool with that, but we couldn’t help ourselves either.

In what looks like a long night, because I couldn’t get the much-needed sleep, this is basically because I’m always like this any time I’m spending the night somewhere new or different from my comfort. A lot of things was running through my mind that got me up by 4AM, had my bath with some other guys and we were on our regular wears, waiting for the right time to get the registration done. Few minutes to 5AM, soldiers and “Man O Wars” started blowing their whistle and forcefully chase everyone  out of the hostel to the parade ground, at first I thought not being on the usual uniform is a good way to escape the chase and rant from the military men, but I was wrong. That very morning, I was feeling some sort of heavy and sharp pain in my waist region that I couldn’t bend or do anything with my waist without feeling the pain, effect of sitting for long hours. On getting to the parade ground, I realized we were much on regular clothes, and I believed most of us came in  late the day before. While every other corps member was finding their way down to the field for the usual morning parade, me and my novice friends felt it’s a good time to get our registration done on time, before there is too much crowd, but we were sent back to the parade ground to join the devotion, and since every one of us has no platoon yet, we to created our own line as instructed by a soldier and I was among the first ten people on the line. I was a bit shy at first, but I got over it and got my praise on.

There was a “Man O war” exercising session after the devotion, and that was when I felt the pain the most. Afterwards, we all the newbies went down to the hall waiting to be registered. Someone came to hint some of us that we should go for our medical clearance first, which we did and it went down with ease, against my fear (if you know, you know), which I believed many others also have same fear. We went back to the hall and waited all morning, yet no view of anyone that looks like an official to attend to us, while were talking and hoping to be attended to soon, an official came in and told us that the registration won’t commence till after the swearing-in ceremony. We decided to go back to the hostel and get some rest, while it felt as though I was already getting the sleep I missed out on through the night, soldiers came to drive us all out and made us yet to be registered out of the hostel and made us spectators during the swearing-in ceremony. The event made no sense to us, so we left for “Maami” market to get something light to eat, and we decided to buy bread, and the necessary things to make tea with in order to have something to eat after the registration. We sat at the shop we bought the snacks and drinks from, and we were talking till we saw people on 6/7 NYSC kit trooping into the “Maami” market, then we knew the event was over and we didn’t hesitate on going down to the hall to get the registration done.

My registration experience happened to be quite thrilling as well. After so much eye-service displayed by some PCMs, trying to please the staff that came to announce all the necessary things needed for the registration. Some went as far as helping her arrange the chairs, to be attended to first, my saving grace was simply that I’m not a big fan of pleasing people because I need a favour from them, I observed as things unfolds and wasn’t disappointed when she told us all that the eye-service thing will not amount to anything and it doesn’t give an edge whatsoever, it was then most people refrained from helping her, though they were almost done with the arrangement. She then announced that the pregnant women, nursing mothers and those not fit for camping – medical reports, health wise – will be attended to first, before attending to the normal PCMs. After the afore-mentioned set of people, they also attended to those of us remaining using the number on our entrance slip as a guide, and fortunate for me, I wasn’t so far off, more like I was in the first 20 people to be attended to. Bank registration was going on as well and it was slated according to state codes, that made me fall under UBA, though I wanted ZENITH bank, but I had no choice than to accept my fate.

All through this time of registration, I had two bags with me, one is an office file bag containing original copies of documents needed the most for my registration, while the other contained all the photocopies I made from home, even though most are still laying useless in my bag.

My state code automatically puts me in Platoon 4 (last digit is 4), which I immediately headed to the Platoon 4 stand for my documentation and registration with the Platoon officer (PO). Getting there, the man gave me a copy of an oath statement to go make ten more copies of before he attends to me. At the place I would be making the photocopy it was #20 per copy, which I strongly disagreed with and went somewhere else, he said same thing but later did a copy for me #15 which I had no other choice but to pay for and get the thing done once and for all. On getting back to the Platoon officer, I needed passports for my documentation, then it dawn on me that I wasn’t with one of my bags, and because the Platoon officer collected some of my files from me, I was convinced to the core that he I gave it to him as well. He said I didn’t and he was already raising his voice, so I had to angrily leave his place to avoid many more attention on me because we were already creating a scene. While I was grieving and in my world of confusion, I felt the urge to go back to every other place I had used my documents before coming down to the PO, and the last place was at the stand where UBA is, I saw my file bag laid flat on their table staring at me and instantly I felt like the worst person on earth for wrongly accusing an elderly man. I went back to the PO in all sincerity and with a sorry face. He asked if I saw it and I sincerely answered yes, then he said good I was truthful, some other people he’s had such scenario with in the past all denied ever seeing their file back to avoid him bashing them and probably the embarrassment that comes with it. He further added, now facing every other person around us then, saying “you guys should always learn to get things done on time, to avoid the unnecessary pressure that comes with late registration”, lesson well learnt for me because I was the victim and I put myself in the man’s shoe of being accused wrongly, justifying myself would be so difficult and might result to me crying. I will commend his fatherly and matured approach towards the whole thing.
I needed an opportunity to make up for my short coming, and then the right time came after my documentation. There was no kit again, so they needed people to help get them from the store, which the man asked me to join them and I couldn’t resist, it felt like a good place to say sorry for my wrong deed. It was not so easy, we did loads of careful counting and proper arranging before bringing the NYSC kits from the store down to the hall. On getting back, I also voluntarily helped to arrange the kits to make giving it out easy. Afterwards, a pair of crested vest was missing, mistake from whoever counted it from the hall, and I was the only one yet to pick my kit amidst those that we went to the store together. I heard the store keeper would not give out any extra because he believed they picked all the needed numbers, and there was no way to prove it’s not true, because we did the counting ourselves.

I eventually got my kit, shirts and trousers were oversize, my jungle boot and tennis shoe were not my size, the shorts were not looking so bad, but the white t-shirts were nothing too good to write home about. My biggest concern was the jungle boot, I met with Chinedu and he said we should go to the store to complain which we did because according to him, he needs another set of khaki shirt and trouser because the ones he was given were too small for him. On getting there, the store attendant changed my jungle boot alone, saying there are no more big sizes for the tennis shoes, so I let that slide. Chinedu’s request was not granted, so I told him we should go test each other’s cloth as we might end up been of good help to each other. We did eventually, and his cloth fits me well, while mine were a bit bigger for him, but better than the one he exchanged with me. The only thing I paid a tailor for was my khaki trouser, and it’s all because I needed the mouth penciled, though I ended up not liking the job done by the tailor, but I had to rock it like that with swagssss and shoulders up.

As the day goes by, registration finally ended, I went back to the hostel, washed the cloth I traveled down with, tried charging my phone, also get something to eat, and then go online to gist my WhatsApp fam on my status all at the same time, but then light – out time couldn’t let me carry out all of these plans. I forgot to mention how crappy 9mobile network was in the camp, and that is my major line, and the one I surf the net with the most and I just subscribed before coming to camp. 9mobile actually came to camp for product advertisement, awareness and promo for corps members, and it made me wonder what exactly they came to do, because they can’t deny they have no clue of the poor state of their network connection over there. I tried Airtel, but still didn’t get the speed I wanted. Then I heard testimonies about how good and strong Glo network is, I decided to get one and it turned a happily ever after story.      

This is basically how my settling into camp went down, quite interesting right? Well, this is just the icing on the cake, I know you can’t wait to taste the cake itself. Just stay with me, don’t get tired just yet.

Thanks for time and patience with me thus far. 

I have resolved to putting the remaining part of this write-up in segments to avoid an overload and get you tired reading through which might eventually bore you.

This is the second part of my experience at NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Non-wa Gbam Tai LGA, Rivers State. I must commend that the things I saw on getting to camp beats my expectation and triggered my interest which leads to a look-out for what the camping days have in stock for me.

MAAMI MARKET

It is not new to those of us in one way or the other have a thing to do with NYSC Orientation camp what “Maami Market” is all about, but for the sake of my audience at large, “Maami Market” is simply a place, more like a mini–market in the camp. This particular “Maami market” at Non-wa Gbam Tai really beats my expectation and took me off my feet. At first glance, I imagined all the money in my account being emptied there already. Lol.

There were quite interesting things to feed your eyes on at “Maami market”, at least when you’re broke, like a colleague said, “just mere gazing at the merriment and jollification that goes on in the market is enough to get over boredom, at least compared to the time spent on parade ground out of compulsion”. There was no service you needed that is not available, ranging from barbing and hair-dressing salon, to having enough tailors - fashion designer like the modern-day ones claim to be – to help you fix whatever cloth it is you want to put in shape, make-up/make-over services also available for the female, bead making, shoe making/amending, printing services (monogram and photocopy), laundry services also available and loads of food and drinks (alcohol inclusive). For your information, I’m a foodie, so this gives the room for the emphasis I’m gonna make on different delicacies I tasted at camp. At the sight of roasted yam, plantain and fish, my taste bud went through some sort of erection like a wild-fire, I eventually tasted it and I think I did 4 – 5 more times before leaving camp. Also, I tasted noodles and fried egg both spiced with carrot, vegetable, green beans and all sort of ingredients for fried rice. I thought the best type of popcorn ever was the one popped with butter, until I tasted a chocolate popcorn with powder milk, oh my goodness! There was also one particular woman that sells snacks, her meat-pie to me and my friends felt like we were jazzed with it, I can’t keep count of how many times I ate it in the space of three weeks. I also got to eat black flavoured “amala” with correct “efo riro” (vegetable), my gosh! Even though it was just once I tasted it, I won’t deny that it tastes still lingers in my saliva down through the throat to my stomach up to this very moment.

I have been all about “Maami market” in my write-up so far, before some of you will think I’m somewhat related to “Adeleke, Otedola, Dangote or OBO”, because I didn’t mention anything about tasting the food from NYSC. Well I did taste it, but only when rice is served, my friends have to convince me to join them taking the bread and tea with boiled egg, even though I always give out the egg to one of my friends and I guess it’s the more reason he calls every time the meal is ready and to say there was always a need to add more milk, chocolate and sugar the tea on our own to enjoy it well. I was more of a “Maami market” fan all through my stay.

MY PLATOON – The Great and Mighty PLATOON 4

Slogan:

Call: Four Platoon (Platoon commander)

Res: Pepper dem

As earlier stated, I found myself in Platoon 4. The vibe and energy we started with, you’ll think we will come first in all activities on camp, we were full of so much live that neighbouring platoons were envious and they call us noise makers. We have three soldiers as our Platoon commanders, and in this order I think they are superior to one another, Commander LAWALI (p. k. a Ana Aka), Commander AJARA (p. k. a Small Pepper) and Commander DANJUMA (not so sure about his name, I got this from my Platoon president). Ranging from electing platoon leaders, it’s been all shades of fun and nothing short of joy, such a joyful set of people to work with. I met amazing people in the Platoon, notable ones include my guy ROWLAND, my Warri babe OKIEMUTE (Kitay), my platoon mama PEJU, my dear friends ELIZABETH, RITA and ESTHER, VICTOR and my girlfriend in the platoon OYIN.

I have always been look out to when I will meet a true Warri breed in person aside the celebrity ones I envy, then fortunate for me, I met Kitay, correct babe, her prowess in speaking pidgin English gives me goose bumps always, and then her loving and friendly nature got me quite close to her and we had really very interesting and enlightening conversation together.
Oyin was my baby girl, the one I spent time with the most amidst them all and I must say she’s a sweet being, also I sang for her and I’m glad she loved it. I promised to sing to her another song, but we didn’t get that chance till we left camp.

Peju was simply one of the sweet-soul personality I’m glad I met as well. We sang together representing Platoon 4 in one of the morning devotion and that was the beginning of our friendship, though she redeployed after camp.

Elizabeth (aka Eerie) is such an amazing person, sweet to gist with and was so nice to me when I was very sick.

Esther happens to be the most caring person I met, and she’s always keeping me informed with the necessary info so I won’t miss out on any.

Rowland, I’ve got a lot to say about this dude, so let me save it for later.

We started losing our cool and courage in the Platoon when we got kicked out of the football competition, we were so unlucky because we had a great match. That really downed our moral that it affected us in other activities as well. Fortunate for us, our girls were doing just fine in the volley ball competition, so we have a reason resuscitate our hope again. Our match pass team looks so disorganized, to the point that out of too much argument and disagreement during practice on the parade ground, Platoon commander had to seal their mouth on a particular day.

There was a serious misunderstanding and exchange of words one morning like that between the Platoon leaders, but one way or the other the people involved were calmed and sorted their differences amicably.
Eventually, the day for the match pass finally came, and to our outermost surprise, we came first runner up, the celebration and joy was out of this world, like it knew no bound because we didn’t see it coming. Also, our ladies made it to the finals of the volley ball, but they ended up being the runners-up as well, feels like second position was our birth right.

I didn’t mention I had a soldier crush, in person of “Small pepper”, anytime I see or hear her talk, it gives my soul some sort of joy like a flowing river on a sunny day, having a mix of calmness with the rays of sun lighting shining bright on me.

Aside having our little challenge and misunderstanding, if I get the opportunity some other time, I think I would still wanna hang out with those guys and get things done better learning from our past mistakes. I wondered how enjoyable camp was for those not in platoon 4.

To all Platoon 4 members, NYSC Batch B, Stream 2, 2019, I love and adore you all and it’s a great privilege working with every one of you.         

HOSTEL

One out of the many things that bothered me much before coming down to camp is the state at which I envisaged the hostel to be, the toilets most especially, looking back from past experiences I’ve had sharing a public toilet in a gathering young people has not been a pleasant one when it comes to keeping up with maintaining the toilets. I must applaud my hostel mates for being of good conduct and making the toilet quite conducive for people like myself. I had a responsibility as one of the 3 hostel officers we have in charge of cleanliness of the hostel and the toilet, and it was a great time for me working with the hostel governor and two other officers. We did a roster for cleaning of the hostel on daily basis, and as leaders we started on the very first day and every other person followed through the roster keeping the hostel clean all through our stay.

LECTURES AND SAED

One of the noteworthy event at camp is the lectures and SAED (Skills Acquisition & Entrepreneurship Department) program. This lecture time serves as supplement for the short night rest for me and many others I believe. I don’t want to say boring, but really not so enjoyable. SAED was very confusing for me at first, after struggling with which particular SAED program to join. After much deliberations I finally joined the ICT SAED, and that made the difference for me, for I learnt how to code in python, and to say our tutor is also a corps member like us made it more fun and interactive for me.

There’s nothing much fascinating to say about this, but there were much-needed and helpful information you get during these lecture hours. One of such days was when Google Digital Skills representative came around, and I happen to represent my Platoon in a speech talk on the word “LEADERSHIP”, we were close to winning judging from the points made by myself and my colleague’s speech, but there were other criteria to winning as well, which carries more mark and was not fair on our part. I must say it was an enjoyable moment for me, and I loved the feedback I got personally from fellow corps members base on my performance, even those from other platoon as well.

KITCHEN EXPERIENCE

The first time my Platoon was on duty, I didn’t even go near the kitchen at all, because first I detest doing anything relating to kitchen work and secondly all food served that very day were far from the regular I go for. Those that had the first experience described how tedious it was, even though I saw that beforehand, I felt sorry for them anyway. My Platoon got kitchen duties a second time because the work had gone round all other Platoons, which implies they have to start from Platoon 1 again as camping days were not yet  over, so we got another turn of kitchen duty. Majority ran from the duty this time around, which made the officers and commanders come to the parade ground to forcefully take people down to the kitchen for they needed more hands. I couldn’t get away from being picked. After I was picked, I tried getting away by joining another Platoon, unfortunately, I got caught and my tag with that of many others that tried escaping was seized with the condition of not getting your NYSC ID card if you don’t partake in the kitchen work. I went to the Platoon 5 commander that collected my tag from me, and he said he has given it to my platoon officer already. I went to him and used being on duty in OBS as a way to get my tag back and not to work in the kitchen, and trust me the trick worked. It was not a trick per say, because truly I’m always on duty everyday, but it;susually late in the night.

I eventually joined them in the kitchen later in the day, just to have a feel of what the experience looks like and because I heard they will be serving jollof-rice that evening. On getting there, they’ve done all the work needed to be done, I just helped in ushering people in and helped to fetch some water used to wash after serving.

It took a while before the serving commenced with the excuse that there was no light and the generator has developed a fault been fixed at hand, and without the light on, serving won’t commence. I was at the kitchen door this very time, and seeing the queue full of angry and hungry faces, raining abuse and saying all sort of negative words about Platoon 4. I paired with Rita at one of the kitchen entrance, and I must commend her and calmness and the ability to keep up a smiling face with all the words said to her us, and I must say that goaded me to keep the smile up and represent my Platoon well.

ENCOUNTER WITH MILITARY MEN – Soldiers and “Man O War”

Personally, I was deliberately of very good conduct and comported myself quite well enough all through my stay in camp to shove off every form insolence. Aside the day a soldier punished me and two other guys by asking us to sit on the ground simply because we didn’t run when it was time for lecture while others were running and some other occasions whereby I served general punishment for one reason or the other. Aside this minors, I would stay it was a smooth ride all through my stay.

To say we didn’t step on their nerves will be a big lie, most especially the “Man O Wars”, most corps members find it hard to respect those guys especially the female ones. Truth is that they also can ask for too much and in life I’ve come to understand that "you don’t demand respect, you earn it". I can boldly vouch for my platoon commanders for how they relate well with us, which made our union solid to the point that they overlooked every annoying and disrespectful behaviour thrown at their face also when they are not at their best, they still find a way to keep up their cool.

Prior to time spent in camp, I’ve always thought wrongly of military men, most especially soldiers which makes dealing or having anything to do with them hard for me, but my three weeks camping revealed another side of them that is pleasing and adorable.

OBS

I will tag this as saving the best for this moment. So if you’ve followed till this very moment, you are valid and genuinely loved.

OBS simply means ORIENTATION BROADCASTING SERVICE. I had the best and interesting time with the group of people turned family OBS brought my way.

It started after completing my registration and I got my kit, it felt as though I could rest and enjoy myself already, until a friend of mine - a fellow corps member, camped same place I did but with Batch B, Stream 1 – gave me a head-up of the best association to join to get a better PPA. Before then, I’ve always loved the band guys and I already made up my mind to join them when I get to camp, but because he was part of the band in his days at camp, and still does his CDS with the band made taking his advice seriously. He told me the best place to join is either OBS or Red Cross the very night I completed my registration. I knew Red Cross was completely off for me, but OBS looks like something I could fit-in anyway and anyhow, even though I know little or nothing about what they do. The second day after the morning lecture I walked up to one of the guys in OBS stand on the podium and he told me the chances of me joining is very slim because auditioning went down the day before and a number of people were present and the best way to cut the number is the get the best out of the multitude, but he advised me to go down to the OBS building describing to me who the OBS president in person is, so I could meet with me and have a heart-to-heart talk with him to see if I stand a chance. Truth being told, I don’t know the exact place OBS building is as at then, and I sincerely told him, he laughed, and I took it as “this one no serious” kind of gesture, but I careless. He described the place for me and I went with my friend Rowland.

On meeting with the president, he asked us to come back in the evening, and he kept telling the same story of checking back to me all through the week, which I didn’t get tired of doing though I was discouraged about it believing he’s only playing me and will not grant what I wanted. A part of me still believed strongly that I will get a chance and that kept me going relentlessly.

On Saturday that very week, he finally gave me an audience and asked me to join the general meeting the next day by 2pm, which I did. In that meeting we were all asked to introduce ourselves and by so doing, I guess I impressed a number of people who made me one of those nominated to be the HOP (Head of Programs). I didn’t win during the election, but that relieved my tension and sense of not belonging there, because unlike others, my name is not on the list of OBS members and I weary of being embarrassed. The meeting finally ended and we were asked to write our names on a new list before leaving. It got to my turn to put down my name, but I was asked to wait for the recognized members be attended to first. I waited and my name was eventually added to the auxiliary list, it was then it dawned on me that I was not the only one that missed out on the audition. Seeing my name on the supplementary list means I needed to impressively earn my place.

I joined the radio presenters of Chiwendu 101.5 FM, number one resource and information centre of NYSC Orientation Camp, Nonwa-Gbam Tai LGA, Rivers State. I run a show tagged LIGHT OUT MUSIC SHOW with JEGEDE BOLUWATIFE, my studio girlfriend (like I fondly call her) and she happens to be the 2^nd runner up for Miss BBB (Big Bold and Beautiful). We have DJ TASH aka BISHOP around with us all the time on the wheel of steel except on some few times he was not around, we’ll have to settle for someone else, and Pelumi and DJ Justune were of great help. There was a particular day myself and Bolu had to help ourselves with the DJ thing, when there was no one in view to do that for us. The show is more of music show, and it entails count downs, music request, match-making (MCM, WCW) and making shout out.

I had a great time running this show with Bolu and to mention that we both did a number of match makes by helping corps members make shout out to opposite sex friends they have a crush on. This serve as a place to kick-start a relationship for some people, and it feels really good using this platform to create bonds. The only sad thing is that I left camp still single, well for some good and personal reasons though. One and most important of them all is that I’m of the opinion that the sole aim of being in a relationship is for marriage in view, years of learning by example and experience gave me this insight. Three weeks looks like a short time to create that kind of bond, so I had to only keep up good friendship with people and I presumed will last longer and God willing lead to something serious. So you will agree with me that I’m still single for a good reason right? Lol.

I tried as much as I can to hide it from people that I could sing, but not from my OBS family. In one way of the other I put myself out there and there was no regret because it gave the opportunity to meet like minds, get along well and we did beautiful music together.

FRIENDS

I met different people from different spheres and corners of Nigeria, and there was a lot to learn from every one of them. I could actually decide to write about everyone I met with all the beautiful experience and lessons well learnt from them, but it will take me a longer time to put together and eventually get this article delayed than this. I never believed in meeting total strangers and in few days you already share companionship that looks like you’ve known for years, with an out-pour of love on you and sharing deep and enlightening conversation with you. It also created an avenue of meeting with young family men, and hearing their experiences thus far makes marriage looks so appealing and lovely with the right person. Their story portrays the fact that they are married to someone whose being aligns with their dream in thoughts, deeds and action etc, which makes living life, breaking grounds, overcoming challenges, sharing love and bringing up their kids easy and fun. The challenges marriage entails were shared with me as well, but my chit-chat with them made me concentrate more on the positive side that I considered marrying at an early age.

In my little work and experience in OBS, I had a vox pop interview working with a fellow presenter in person of Ife – , for that reason she gave me some sort of hug I have never received before. The kind of hug that involves your body, including my two hands all wrapped up in her arms, glued to her body, I didn’t even get opportunity to let loose my hands so I could at least have them around her. That hug felt so special that it raised some sort of jealousy in the air, but who cares. I think that actually helped us bond well and made the interview quite interesting. The interview gave corps members the chance to pour out their heart and everything good and bad that has troubled their mind, it was more like a big relieve of a joyful and burdened heart that needs a listening ear to recon with. At some point it got me all emotion. It is super amazing how  people got along with each other to the point that some even acknowledge that they met their best friend already in camp. It looks quite impossible and unrealistic to make a bestie in the space of 3 weeks, but having my share of this love made me see to the light it it possibility.

There was also a scenario where someone shared with us about a friend he met at the camp gate on the day of arrival, they ended up sharing the same bunk by chance. And he shared how the person would do his laundry and help fill his bucket with water before he gets back late in the night from OBS – he’s also a well-known member.

This boils down to how important education is, there is more to education than just getting a degree, you could as well get some sense of being humane and adapt well to every new environment which makes everywhere you find yourself home. Although I won’t deny that there were some d**k-heads, but there were only a few of them that I know or heard of. And aside stepping on one another’s toes which is inevitable, I will say everyone I met has a good and loving heart.

     

MY WORST EXPERIENCE

To Say there were no trying moments at camp would be a big lie. Having to get back to the hostel after my show few minutes to light – out, with the fact that the show runs every day and with the need to resume at OBS by 4:30am the following and for the fact that I wash everyday, I guess I need not talk much about how tedious that is. I would also add the parade as one of it, because I lost interest from the first day when I tried really hard to get to into the match-pass team by impressing the soldiers, but all to no avail. It occurs to me completely a waste of time, having us wait and watch them practice their parade, while we have to stand all through or probably have to sit on stones or sticks which is not so comfortable.

I did like to add the general punishment given by the commanders as well, most times we were asked to squat down, sit on the floor (the easiest, aside getting your short dirty), kneeling down etc. I bet you know not how painful these stuffs are until you spend few minutes doing them, then the pains start adding up and you wish you had never been disobedient. In most cases, you pay dearly for the wrong doings of others, most people tend to pay for a crime they didn’t commit.

It was completely an interesting experience for me and I was enjoying every bit of it and managing the stress well. From the very first week, there has been reports of people’s health that asked some to go home and get a better treatment, I guess many stayed behind and it’s simply because they don’t want to miss out in all the fun. This reminded me of one of the contestants for Miss NYSC I met. She sat beside me on the day of the main match-pass and we got talking about camp and some other things, until a call came in and I noticed she was raising her voice at some point. After the call, I asked if everything is fine, and then she said her boyfriend wants her to pull out of the beauty pageant because of her health and she’s trying to make him understand that she’ll be fine, and considering the time, energy, money and quality time spent for rehearsals will go to waste like that, still the guy didn’t buy her excuse. The boyfriend’s point of view and stand is understandable, likewise that of the lady in question, but what to do? There were many other cases like that most especially in the last week in camp, both male and female were falling ill out of accumulated stress. At least, I joined in helping to rush down a female corps member to the clinic for urgent medical attention which proved positive as I later heard.

In what feels like a smooth journey for me, my very last weekend on camp was in shambles. I started feeling very tired on the last Saturday of camping days, which happens to be the day of carnival. I tried getting the rest I could before 3pm – time slated for the event to begin. To my amusement, I was head down and so uninterested in all the day’s activities through the carnival. It finally ended and I went to “Maami” with my friends to get something to eat and then rest afterwards.

I had a long night, couldn’t sleep well and woke up very weak and tired the next day. I reluctantly got myself up, had my bath went for breakfast of bread and tea and eventually went to church with my friend Rowland. The NCCF thanksgiving service was a big relieve on my health and I danced really well during my Platoon’s turn in the thanksgiving session arranged to be platoon by platoon in an ascending order 1 – 10. After church, I needed to rest really bad, then I heard food is ready and it’s jollof rice, everyone’s favourite I guess. After I finished eating I decided to rest a bit and before I could close my eyes, we were called out to the hall. I got there quite early, but we OBS members where chased from our usual sitting spot on the podium and the hall was almost filled up as at then so getting a sit for myself was quite a herculean task, eventually, I got one. I saw that moment as a place to rest well, but unfortunately, it started raining and I was very cold.  After the event that I will tag a “fair-well gathering from NYSC officials to corps members”, I went down to “Maami” to get my khaki from the dry cleaner to cover myself with, because was already very shaky (cold) and running temperature simultaneously. On getting my khaki uniform, and some other things needed done, I went down to the pharmacy to get drugs for myself and from there I entered OBS building for our party said to hold that very day.
It was not an enjoyable party for me at first to the point that some of my colleagues noticed I was cold and running temperature, which I really wasn’t very cool with, because I tried my best to hide it from them but I couldn’t. Thanks to Elizabeth (a.k.a Eerie) who shared her meat-pie with me so that I could have something to eat before taking the drugs I bought from the pharmacy earlier and she was all caring for me that night that I felt so loved. Having taken the drugs, I felt a bit well and even did a karaoke of Olufunmi by Styl Plus, and I will say it was quite fun. I later got along with others and had a great night.

Going back to the hostel after the fun looks like the illness was coming back. On getting to the hostel, I decided to sleep to get some strength for the next day which tend to be the last day in camp, that was when my health got worse and I felt to myself that I will do just fine before day break. Chinedu decided to check on me, and seeing how high my body temperature is, and thank goodness we have a male nurse in hostel E3, who attended to me after Nedu (as Chinedu is fondly called) called his attention to me so he could run a check up on me. To say I collected three injections to my buttocks that night will result an exaggeration. All thanks to Chinedu and Taiwo who voluntarily for my sake went to the pharmacy that night to get the injection and other things prescribed by nurse. Mr Frank (nurse) assured that the injection will stop the temperature before day break, he also gave me cough syrup because I was also battling with cough and catarrh.

It was morning already, temperature all gone, but I still feel very sick. I managed all through till we eventually left camp, and I joined the RCCF bus to their lodge. Quite a very beautiful and loving place to be, I had the most delicious meal in the past 21 days there. My health didn’t give room for much enjoyment at first, but on the long run, the place felt so homely as RCF was to me. Sorting for PPA was another experience on its own, but I will like save It for later. I met with people I don’t know or have any meet with from camp, except a few of them and I will say the love and care they showed healed me and not just the drugs.

I got the chance to play the piano in one or two occasions, joined in the Saturday exercise and played football which a number of them speak well of my playing skill. I eventually left there and went down to my friend’s place who is a student in UNIPORT (University of Port Harcourt). I didn’t have much remarkable experience in the school, because I spent few days with him, and I only entered the school ones to charge my phone because he stays off campus and they hardly have light. I met some really cool guys with great personalities in my little time spent there. I got there on Saturday and left for Lagos on Tuesday, was really a short enjoyable time.

My journey back to Lagos was really fun, more adventurous and engaging than when I was coming to PH. That will be story for some other time.

Another interesting part of my stay in camp is the early morning exercise led my "Man O War", I enjoyed it so much that I’m always on the lookout for it every morning, to the point that I was among the very first set of corps members that started learning how to fight karate. It came to my notice that I started feeling sick the very day I stopped the morning exercise, so I can say the exercise played a great deal in my well-being added up to my ability to stay put and fit all through my stay. This points to me how important exercising is, and I decided never to take exercising my body lightly ever again.
The fact that I was posted to Obio/Akpor LGA in Port Harcourt for my PPA tops up the joy for me, even though settling in came with its own challenge, I’m glad and grateful for the opportunity

I feel this is a good place to drop the pen and hope you enjoyed this ride with me? Stay tuned for more to come, I’m going to blow your mind more.

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