My NYSC Camp Expirience

Greetings fellow Hive users. Today, I will recount my personal experience at the NYSC camp and provide some context for those who may not be familiar with the meaning of NYSC and its significance to Nigerian graduates. The acronym NYSC stands for National Youth Service Corps and was established in 1973 by the Nigerian government to promote national development among young Nigerians. This mandatory program is designed for all Nigerian graduates below the age of 30, who are deployed to various regions in the country for one year to partake in activities such as teaching, healthcare, agriculture, and community projects. These graduates, known as Corp members, are greatly valued in rural areas and receive accommodations, monthly allowances (known as Allowee), and other benefits. The NYSC program provides many benefits to aspiring young professionals, including opportunities to gain invaluable skills, learn about different cultures, develop a sense of national unity, and create networks and connections that could be useful for future careers. The NYSC camp is where Corp members receive three weeks of training that includes military drills to instill discipline, teamwork, and physical fitness, as well as entrepreneurial skills in different categories such as bead-making, fashion design, computer programming, graphic design, and website development. Additional training sessions are provided to teach valuable social and cultural lessons, as well as practical matters such as hygiene, first aid, and disease prevention.

NOW BEGINS MY NYSC CAMP STORY

After my university graduation in 2019, I was so eager to start my NYSC camping experience. I couldn't start early after I did an online NYSC registration in March 4th 2020 deu to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown which made me stayed at home for a long time feeling so frustrated. Finally got my call up letter from the NYSC official website on the 22nd December 2021 to prepare and come for the program on the 5th of January 2022. I was part of the batch B stream 2 corp members posted to Cross River, a state in the southern part of Nigeria where I camped at a local government in the state called Obubra. I was so super excited and got prepared for the program. I have heard alots from friends and family who have had experience about the lots of fun in the NYSC camp made me so eager to enter the NYSC camp as soon as possible.

MY JOURNEY TO CROSS RIVER

I am from the north and I have never been to the southern part of Nigeria. I don't have any relatives in Cross River state so I traveled to Portharcourt in River State,a southern part of Nigeria where my uncle resides. Travelling from Kogi State to Portharcourt was an amazing experience for me. The gorgeous scenery along the way, featuring abundant vegetation and rolling hills, provided a magnificent journey that I thoroughly enjoyed, despite the seven-hour travel time. When I arrived at my uncle's home in Portharcourt, I received a warm welcome from him and his family, who treated me with the utmost care and hospitality. They cooked delicious meals for me and showed me around the city's tourist destinations, making me feel relaxed and right at home. Even though I was on my way to a NYSC camp, I felt like I was on an enjoyable vacation.
After spending two wonderful days in Portharcourt, I continued on to Cross River State, where I was astounded by the beauty of the Niger Delta region. The diverse landscape, which included countless creeks, canals, and swamps, was breathtaking to behold. My journey through the mangrove forests was made even more remarkable by the appearance of exotic birds and other wildlife.

AT THE OBUBRA NYSC CAMP IN CROSS RIVER

Although my trip to the NYSC camp in Obubra, Cross River State was well-planned and adequately prepared for, my experience there was not what I expected. After taking a COVID-19 test, I received a positive result that was devastating to me, leaving me feeling isolated, scared, and unsure of what was to come. I knew that the next few weeks would be spent in a quarantine center, and my dreams of what I had expected at camp were shattered.

At the Quarantine center

Around a dozen individuals, including myself, were found to have contracted COVID-19. We were immediately moved to a quarantine center within the NYSC camp and then transported the next day to another quarantine facility at the general hospital in Obubra. During the two weeks we spent there, the initial days were particularly challenging for me; I felt trapped and emotionally suffocated. However, as time passed, I found solace in connecting with other quarantined friends, laugh over the situation as we make funny scenarios. We prayed together which uplifted our high spirits that we would over come the COVID-19 virus. Practicing meditation and yoga, and receiving reassuring messages from friends and family. We were treated well and even received visits from NYSC officials, promising us good placements for our primary assignments. Despite testing positive for COVID-19 and facing disappointment, I managed to overcome the challenges of quarantine and use it as an opportunity for growth. This experience strengthened my resilience and instilled in me a newfound appreciation for the simple pleasures of life. After weeks of being closely monitored and eagerly taking multiple tests, we were all confirmed negative of the virus, and a sense of immense joy and relief washed over us. We were ecstatic as we were transported back to the NYSC camp.

As the camp dismissal approached, I made a conscious decision to make the most of my remaining time. Participating in military drills allowed me to challenge myself both physically and mentally, drawing on my inner strength and resilience to excel in the matching competitions. This was not too difficult for me as I had previous experience with matching competitions during my secondary school days.

In addition, the cultural activities opened my eyes to the world of art. As I danced, painted and played music with other members, I found a medium through which I could express my emotions and find a sense of healing.

The skill acquisition sessions on agribusiness taught me about sustainability and the importance of self-sufficiency. Through cultivating crops and raising livestock, I gained a deeper understanding of responsible farming and the interconnectedness of nature. Nurturing life from the soil filled me with a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

As the week came to a close, I felt proud and grateful for the lessons learnt and the personal growth achieved. I was ready to face the future with renewed vigor and eagerness to embrace whatever adventures lay ahead.

Thank you for reading 😊. Please like,follow and share my post. Watch out for my next post on THE EXPERIENCE I HAD AT MY PLACE OF PRIMARY ASSIGNMENT AFTER COMPLETING 3 WEEKS OF NYSC CAMPING.