I don't
need a soothsayer to tell me that I have prospective corps members in the house, and in this article, I will be telling you what you need for the forthcoming NYSC orientation
camp. I will as well advise you on what to do in order to make your camping and
service year most memorable.
The NYSC
scheme (which was established on May 22, 1973 by General Yakubu Gowon) has four
(4) main programmes. All corps members are
expected to actively participate in these programmes before they can be
awarded their NYSC discharge certificates.
These
four programmes are:
- NYSC
Orientation Course.
- Primary
Place of Assignment (PPA).
- Community
Development Service (CDS).
- Passing
Out Parade (POP).
1. The NYSC Orientation Course
The NYSC orientation course is the most important among the four cardinal programmes of
the scheme because it is a prerequisite for becoming a bonafide corps
member. In other words, for a prospective corps member to be certified as a
corps member, he/she must attend the orientation course.
I call it
the holiest of all the programmes. The reason is that you can maneuver the
other three programmes but you dare not try it with this. Even if you don't
like your state of deployment, you must, first of all, attend the orientation course.
The NYSC
orientation course is held in all the NYSC camps in the 36 states of the
federation. It usually lasts for three weeks with varieties of mind-blowing
activities that will make you say, "The camping shouldn't end".
Some of
the most important exercises that take place in the orientation camp are:
a. Registration of prospective corps members
Aside the
online registration you did, you will be required by NYSC to carryout another
registration in Camp. The one you did online was for the mobilization while the
registration in camp will make you a bonafide corps member.
The
requirements for this registration are:
- Original
statement of result or Original result: B.A, B.Sc, HND or its equivalent.
Please don't laminate it.
- Passport
photographs (at least eight). You might or might not use them.
- All
NYSC documents you printed out during your online registration.
- Up-to-date
school ID Card.
b. Allocation of Registration Number and NYSC kits to corps members
After
you've been successful registered, you will be given your registration number
(which carries your state of deployment, batch and serial number) and your NYSC
kits. The NYSC kits include:
- Your
NYSC trousers and crested vest.
- NYSC
belt.
- NYSC
face cap.
- A
pair of NYSC jungle boots.
- A
pair of NYSC white sneakers.
- Two
pairs of NYSC socks.
- A
pair of white shorts.
- A
pair of white shirts.
c. The NYSC swearing in/ opening ceremony
This is
another important event that takes place in camp. It is in this ceremony that
prospective corps members are officially sworn in as corps members. You see why
the NYSC orientation course is very important? This occasion is graced with
important dignitaries and parades by corps members.
d. The Orientation Course Proper
The
opening ceremony officially opens the orientation course which comes with loads
of activities. Some of these activities are morning devotion/parade, SAED
programmes, Lectures, Miss NYSC, Mr Macho, Miss Big, Bold and Beautiful, Inter
platoon competitions, evening parade in preparation for the closing ceremony
etc.
Below are
some things you will need for the NYSC orientation course/Camp:
- White
shorts and shirts (at least three each). You need them to add to the ones
NYSC will give to you.
- At
least another pair of socks except you wanna manage the one NYSC will give
you.
- Waist
bag where you can put your phones, keys, money and other valuables so that
they don't get stolen. This waist bag should always be attached to your
waist even when you are sleeping.
- At
least a pair of white sneakers. NYSC sneakers are not original at all.
They easily get damaged. Therefore, it is important you buy at least a
pair or two pairs to add to the one NYSC will give to you. You will also
need them for CDS meetings.
- A
notebook and pen to take down lecture notes.
- You
can go with your church clothes for Sunday service. Note that your uniform
for the three weeks you will be spending in camp is your white shirt
(round neck or V-neck) on your white short, with your white sneakers and
socks enveloping your legs. The church clothes are for Sunday service. After service, you will be required to appear in camp uniform. You can attend church service with any of your NYSC kits if you like.
- A
torch or any phone that has a torch to enable you see at night.
- Don't
forget to go with your neat underwear. Remember, you are camping for 3
weeks. Make sure you shave the sensitive areas before embarking on this
journey.
- Go
with at least the sum of thousand naira (#10,000). I think this will be
more than enough when added to the first "alawee" (#19,800) you will be given
in camp. You will also be given the sum of #2,500 for your bicycle and
transport allowances.
e. Bank registration
This is
another important exercise that takes place in camp. For you to get your alawee
for the 12 months, you must do this registration. At one point, in course of
the orientation course, you will be grouped under different banks according to
your registration number to register and open your NYSC allowance account.
Endeavour to do this in order to avoid stories that touch the heart.
f. Bonfire Night
This is
another fun-filled activity in camp. It is an indication that the orientation course is gradually coming to a close. It precedes the closing ceremony.
g.
Closing Ceremony
Anything
that has a beginning must surely have an end. This ceremony marks the closing
of all camping activities for any batch. Just like the opening ceremony,
the closing ceremony is graced with military parades by corps members,
prominent dignitaries and other events.
It is on
this day that the names of corps members and their Primary Places of Assignment
(PPA) will be pasted. While it is a sorrowful day for some, it is a joyful day
for others. After the closing ceremony, corps members are taken to their various Primary Places of Assignment (PPA).
2. The Primary Place of Assignment (PPA)
The PPA
is another important cardinal programme of NYSC. It is where corps members
render their services. It could be a school, ministry, private or public
companies etc. For corps members to be eligible for their monthly allowance,
they must have their clearance form (for that month) signed by the head of their
PPA. It then means that if a corps member fails to render his/her service(s) in
his/her PPA, the head of his/her PPA has the right not to sign his clearance form.
3. Community Development Service (CDS)
Corps
members, before the end of their service year, are expected to carryout a
developmental project in the community they are posted to. In order to achieve
this, a CDS meeting, where corps members discuss ways of
developing the community they are posted to, is held once a week.
Attendance
to this meeting is taken seriously by NYSC officials, especially when you are serving in the state's capital.
4. The Passing Out Parade (POP)
The
Passing Out Parade, commonly called "POP", is the last and shortest
programme among the four cardinal programmes of NYSC. Only corps members who
have actively participated in the first three cardinal programmes are eligible
for this programme.
On this
day, eligible corps members are given their NYSC discharge certificates
after successfully serving their country, Nigeria.
Things
You May Not Like in Camp
These
are some of the things you may not like in camp:
- The
late to bed and early to rise routine.
- The
camp food.
- The
early morning and evening parades. No be beans oh! Very rigorous
exercises.
- The
SAED lectures which are usually boring.
- The
NYSC toilets which are usually messed up.
Even with
all these shortcomings, the NYSC orientation course remains the most interesting programme among
other cardinal programmes of the scheme.
My Candid
Advice to You
1.
Endeavour to go with all the things mentioned above.
2. Spend
your money wisely. There is a place called "Maami" in camp. It is a
big market where you can get almost all the things you want in this world. Most times, Corps members, out of excitement, squander their monies there
(including the one they receive in camp). You really need to be financially
disciplined in order to overcome this.
Learn to
save because you still have a lot to do with money after the orientation
course. You don't know the PPA you will be posted to. Some PPA don't have
accommodation, and you might be forced to rent an apartment with your money.
3.
Control your libido. Many corps members had been expelled because of sexual
activities in camp.
4. Always
sleep with one eye opened; otherwise, your properties will disappear. Not all
corps members are good; some are thieves.
5. If you
want to be posted to the state's capital, don't hesitate to join any of these
groups in camp: Orientation Broadcasting Service (OBS), NYSC football/sports
team, NYSC band, SAED committee. Make sure you are an active member.
6. Sleep
early in order to be fit for the next day's tasks.
7. For
the guys, do not impress any girl by spending the little you have. There is
a awful lot to do with money after the orientation course.
8. Arrive
the orientation camp early (even a day before the date) in order to get good
bed space and hostel.
9. Keep
good company.
10. Be
active in all camping activities. It will help you really enjoy your stay in
camp.
Hope this
post is helpful?
I wish
you a fun-filled camp and a most memorable camping experience!
