NYSC scheme and the experience of a novice
I had looked forward to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme after my graduation from the Faculty of Communication of the Bayero University, Kano. On Monday, November 21, 2016, I received the thrilling news that the call-up letters of prospective members of the NYSC had been released online. Rather than access my call-up […]
I had looked forward to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme after my graduation from the Faculty of Communication of the Bayero University, Kano.
On Monday, November 21, 2016, I received the thrilling news that the call-up letters of prospective members of the NYSC had been released online. Rather than access my call-up letter through my phone, I opted to check at the business centre. Like a day of judgement, many prospective corps members were in the business centre. Some of those who had seen and printed their letters either looked very sad or excited.
Majority of them were not deployed to states of their first choice. I had actually chosen Rivers and Osun states as my first and second ‘choices’ during registration. I had dreamt of going to a far distance where I could learn a new language and culture in a completely new environment. Corps members are expected to intermingle, interact, associate, as well as understand the social and cultural backgrounds of their respective places of primary assignment. Before I sat to access my posting at the internet cafe, I was shivering and sweating like a jelly fish.
As I was about to log-in into the NYSC portal, I prayed harder. Behold, I was deployed to a city I knew, the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. I could not influence a redeployment because I am neither married nor have major health problems as major requirements for such a request. Meanwhile, I was so shocked that some of my mates were congratulating me on the Abuja posting as if I had won a jackpot. They described my deployment to Abuja as a “golden opportunity.” Now, after all my years of staying in the North, I felt bitter going to the NYSC Camp in North-Central city of Abuja for the orientation programme.
At the camp, we got a ‘hostile’ welcome by the Ajuwaya military men who were shouting and commanding us as if we were in the barracks.
The camp is a regimented experience. Some ‘Ajebota’ and over-pampered graduates who looked robust, and some as yellow as riped oranges, shed weight and changed colour within a week through the rigorous exercises in the camp.
Corps members united and related freely with one another, irrespective of ethnic, religious or ethnic sentiments. We gave ourselves different names based on our activities and commitments in camp. I was nicknamed ‘Waka-waka’ because of my go-about nature and restlessness. Every night before light out, which was normally 10:00pm, we cracked jokes, mocked ourselves and discussed serious national issues about the economy, politics and socio-cultural development towards making Nigeria great.
As fearful as the military guys were, we cracked jokes with them, especially after hectic parade exercises akin to severe punishments. Some of the jokes thrown at the soldiers include this song: “If corper marries soldier them go born mumu. If corper marries corper them go born better.”
Camp life is quite an experience. We would wake up from bed very early in the morning, about 3:00am so that we could bath, dress up and go to the parade ground on time before soldiers would start blowing trumpets for a ‘wakeup call’ and going around with their horsewhip. As a graduate of Mass Communication, I engaged in activities of Orientation Broadcasting Service (OBS), as a presenter on a programme called ‘language show.’ I also participated in kitchen competition because I like good food. Apart from daily parade and drill, and the excellent relationship with the camp officials, the decorum, the calmness and brotherly support from the soldiers made the experience worthwhile. I learnt commitment, loyalty, sacrifice, leadership, wisdom, victory, diligence and lots more, from the three-week experience in the Kubwa NYSC Camp, Abuja.
The most interesting experience in the NYSC is the “Mammy Market,” a centre of relaxation, amusement and refreshment. It was a centre where even the saint must be tempted. It always bubbled at night: It was also a rendezvous for establishing, cementing relationships between young men and women. No one could claim to be born again in the Mammy-Market because of the full-fun that went on there.
As a journalism graduate I knew there was a period for every story. I would rather not disclose my experience in this memorable and loving market because I am still an innocent graduate and a novice.
On our last day, we were all posted to various places for our primary assignments. I was excited to receive a letter posting me to an organisation where I strongly believed I would experience the practical aspects of the theories we learnt in Mass-Communication, Public Relations and Crisis Communication. I was posted to the prestigious Image Merchants Promotion Limited, a public relations firm that publishes the PRNigeria, Economic Confidential and the Youths Digest magazine. I am glad the agency provided me with accommodation and modest stipend.
Abdulaziz M. Salisu, NYSC member, Wuye District, Abuja. [email protected]