NYSC: THE CAMP AT A GLANCE!

 

This is Lagos! Welcome to the NYSC Lagos Orientation Camp! Your matriculation into the UNIVERSITY  OF LIFE begins at the Iyana-ipaja ‘’Campus’’ where you will be trained and armed with experiences to help you face the challenges of the real world. I tell you, every experience counts! The three weeks orientation will expose you to all forms of training and fun-filled experiences (managerial, administrative, domestic, name it).I am going to take you on the journey of your expected camp experiences, to get you well adjusted and appreciate the beauty of the NYSC scheme. It is imperative that we spell out the essence and expectations of the training, so that you make yourself available for the various activities and conduct yourself to make it a worthwhile experience. Please make the orientation programme pass through you, this will help you face the world with the right dose of confidence!

Obedience is the first law; the camp is highly regimented giving you no choice but to comply with the various commands coming from the camp authorities. Camp rules are straight and precise, remember you are in for paramilitary training; the military is synonymous with discipline and obedience to those in authority. It not easy to adopt for those who have a weird life style, just have in mind that the environment is meant to bring out the best in you. Obey the sound of the biggle and join the assembly without delay. Be alert! When the biggle is blown at 6 am or 6pm always stand still in respect of the National flag when it is raised at sunrise and when it is lowered in the evening.

Do not live the camp without an exeat from the authority, as you stand the chance of being de-camped! Remember you are being watched. Be warned!

Be respectful and obedient to the camp officials, they are your guardian for the rest three weeks, nobody is least, mind you the cook in the kitchen may be your field/zonal inspector, try not to look down on anyone, so you do not jeopardize your chances of having a good working relationship within the NYSC family. Remember you are being watched! I hope am not scaring you, with the highly discipline camp environment, you can only encounter difficulties if you refuse to be realistic as all measures in place are for the smooth running of the orientation programme.The NYSC LAGOS administration is a transparent and open one, you are encouraged to make suggestions and contributions that will help make the orientation programme worthwhile. Please use the suggestion box to make your contribution, the state co-ordinator reads out the content of the suggestion box every morning and ensures that they are addressed.

Early morning drills and physical training; reminds you of early morning assembly in primary school but this one is as early as 4.30am, the biggle is blown at 4.30 am and you are expected to be on the Parade ground, it is not optional, it is a command! Aside helping you keep fit, they are meant to inculcate discipline in you. It will also help prepare you for the world of work, especially in a busy city like Lagos where you have to wake up early to beat traffic. The journey begins here!

The ‘’Man O war’’ drill also helps you handle management issues; they take you through the turbulence you face before getting to greater heights. This will help you defile the odds; breaking boundaries and barriers to achieve. I tell you, it is really worth the while!

The luxury hostel accommodation; Houses nothing less than 25 occupants in a room, with people from different socio-economic background. The lesson here especially those of you who claim to be born with a silver spoon is to learn how to deal with personalities, tolerate and co-exist with minimal differences as you are going to face the bigger world in your work places. This will help you adapt and adjust with less stress. With this you know you have seen the good, bad and the ugly, nothing is new, life is not always a bed of roses. Please keep your belonging (money, phone, jewelry, under wears, credentials etc) well, as some persons do not steal but their presence may help your belongings grow wings and leave the camp. Do not be careless!

Try not to constitute a nuisance in the hostel; No smoking! The hostel is not an extension of religious activities. Praying aloud in the rooms is not allowed. Avoid being a burden on others as you will be sharing amenities with a number of people, make the toilet and bathrooms tidy for others to use, ensure you participate in the general cleanliness of the environment. Retire to your room at 10 pm, when it is light out, do not be found wanting!

Kitting; Ensure you are properly kitted for the different activities in camp. During the orientation programme, you are restricted to the camp dress code, your plain vest, P.E shorts and canvas given to you after registration will be used for early morning drill and also as casuals after the day’s activities, mufti is not allowed, however, ladies can wear white trouser if the shorts provided is not convenient for them. Wear your white vest or NYSC crested vest with your jungle boot during parade and formal functions such as lectures and talks during the orientation period. Your NYSC crested vest is a ceremonial vest ,worn on your swearing in and important ceremonies, it is your “NYSC Christmas clothe”, so it should not be worn always, as it is issued only once during your service year. You must be fully kitted for every visit to your local government, state secretariat and formal functions.  Treat your uniform with respect, appear neat at all times! Some corp member are ashamed of wearing this noble uniform, It is not worn by just anybody, it is a mark that you are an achiever that is why you can be called up to serve.

 

Feeding; most of you must have been discouraged from eating camp food, I must say that at the Lagos camp, Corp welfare is given great priority, even though N300 has been allocated per corp member per day, I don’t know how the camp authority go about managing the resources at their disposal, but the truth is that feeding is near satisfaction, it does not make you miss home food., as food is prepared by both corp members and camp officials. So it is not wise spending so much money on food from the camp market as they are not better than what is served in the camp. If you are put off by the queue, I advice you get there early or you wait until there is less crowd, there is usually enough for you to eat.

 

Camp Market; popularly known as “Mammy Market”, is an atmosphere for you to socialize and unwind after the day’s activities. The camp is a mixed breed of people from different socio-cultural, socio-economic and academic background, from Universities and institutions both within and outside the country. It is an avenue to discuss their experiences; from such interactions people form clicks and networks for business partnership, meet their life partners and long standing friends. Unloose yourself and interact as being too reserved in an atmosphere like this does not pay.

Corp members should also endeavor to be prudent when spending at the Mammy market, the sellers at the market will rip you off by selling goods at exorbitant prices, the allowance you are paid in camp is for your expenses immediately after camp, so be wise! some guys turn themselves to Santa Claus engaging in frivolous spending to win the heart of a female corp member, they squander both their transport/ bicycles allowance before the end of the camp, it only earns you the  bobo-nice title as it will shock you to see your supposed sweet heart ride home in a posh car, while you drag your ‘’Ghana must go’’ pennyless at the end of the camp. Please spend wisely! Avoid being someone’s bank account.

Please conduct yourself at the camp market, do not get drunk, do things moderately; for the girls carry yourself well when associating with male corp members, else you will earn yourself such names as “Animashwun”, ‘’Miss Generous’’, comport yourself , who knows, you may meet your life partner here. Friendship does not end in camp, it can wait! Get involved but don’t over do it!

Opening of Bank account; Various banks and financial institutions will come to market their products to you. Some corp members patronize all the banks present, they leave the camp with nothing less than five ATM cards. What for? I advice you to maintain your existing accounts for your transactions within this period. You will be asked to open a new account for your NYSC allowance at the point of registering at your local Government, if need be.

 

Lectures; for me the orientation lectures were revealing, I implore you to attend all lectures and talks as they are not the usual things you hear everyday. They educate and motivate you on life’s expectations, tell you the bitter truths; seasoned professionals and entrepreneurs are invited from various sectors of the economy to enlighten and arm you with tools as you journey through life. Lectures include; National Directorate of  Employment) NDE Lecture, NDLEA, CBN lecture, Career in the military, FRSC, Motivational talks and other training on enterprise development.

 

Inter-platoon Competition; There are various activities lined up to make the orientation programme fun filled. Be part of the inter-platoon games such as Foot ball, volley ball, chess games, scramble, tug of war… other social activities include the Miss NYSC and Mr. Macho beauty pageant, Talent hunt, drama, miming and other cultural activities.

Be outstanding! Corp members are often recognized for their dedication and selfless contribution during the service year.

 

POSTING; The major anxiety faced on camp is the issue of posting to places of primary assignment; from the very first week, posting will become an anthem sung everywhere. Please do not loose your sleep over it, as you will definitely get posted, you need not lobby to be posted. Hope for the best work environment, it is not about the name, it is better you go to place where you will be accepted instead of imposing yourself on a firm where you are not needed, and then you won’t like the work environment. Finally the NYSC official with whom you played and had so much fun while on camp assume different personalities, so settle fast!

Once again welcome to Lagos! I wish you a fulfilling service year.