My experience with NYSC was not a joyous one in the beginning. For those not familiar with the Nigerian system, NYSC is a program created by the government whereby every graduate is expected to serve the country for a year after graduation.
NYSC is an abbreviation for National Youth Service Corps. When you are in the program you're majorly referred to as Corper or Corps (the s is silent, hahaha) member. The corps members are posted to different parts of the country, especially places you've never been to.
After the service period a discharge certificate is issued which is also a criteria for getting a well paying job in Nigeria.
So, back to my experience. For my NYSC I was initially posted to Kogi, which is in the northern part of Nigeria. Suffice it to say I was not pleased, I had never been to the north and I've heard stories about the north that I didn't want to be a part of.
There's always a 3 weeks orientation camp where we are told all we need to know about the program and how it works. During my 3 weeks orientation I contacted a guy to help me try and reverse my posting, get me redeployed to a better state.
He promised to do that and received payment from me. I was shocked when on the last day of the orientation camp I received my posting letter and I was posted to a high school in a village in Kogi state. I was beyond pissed.
I have never been to the village (including mine) . The thought of having to stay for a year was not pleasing. Even though I was not pleased, I had to report at my PPA (Primary place of assignment) because it was mandatory.
The first week I resumed was depressing for me. I did not smile, nor did I relate with anyone. I just wanted to be left alone. I did not want to be there and I made it clear to everyone.
About 2 weeks later I went to speak with my Lgi (local government inspector) about my redeployment. The water in the area was bad and it was already affecting my skin, I explained things to him and he promised to do what he can about me being redeployed.
Fast forward to 2 months later, I got a call from the first guy I paid to get me redeployed. He told me the redeployment was successful and I have been transferred back to Lagos. It was great news for me.
I got back to Lagos and got a request letter from my present employer and I was posted there to serve for the remaining 9 months. I didn't work for long since Covid came along and we went into lockdown.
My whole experience was a mixture of bitter and sweet. Personally I feel NYSC is a waste of time and a means of free Labour. That doesn't mean it doesn't have its own benefits, some people had better experiences than me.
Would I do it again if I had the chance, absolutely not!
Thanks for stopping by ❤️
Ex-corper. So, you are one of those that served the country from home due to the pandemic. Well, it's done and dusted but the memory lives on.
As for the relevance of NYSC, l'm really keeping my lips shut about that because if l decide to pour out my opinion, this comment section would not be enough for others 😂.
On a serious note, most of the activities done within that while year of service are quite ridiculous.
As for your business partner, l must say that he did a good job despite the delay. You already know that some people were dwindled in the name of redeployment 😂
Yes o. I was happily serving from home.
Very ridiculous. I be constantly asking myself what the point of everything is.
It got to a point he stopped taking my calls o😂😂 I had already lost all hope when I got a call from him. I left the village 2 days later before they change their mind😂😂
Ohhhhh... You didn't even want to spend an additional month so that you will greet the villages 😂😂. Wahala for who no like village PPA 😂
Seriously speaking, we know what is written on paper about the importance of NYSC but we also know that some of those are mere lips service.
It's good to see that you finally got what you want.
If I could have left the same day I got the news I would have😂😂 I was ready to get my freedom. Plus they did not have most of the food I eat, so I was steady starving myself
Wait a minute! The gist just started and you ended it abruptly?
I was expecting to hear about your experience in Lagos as well since the water in Kogi was bad for your skin
But it is fine, and I hope that you are back to your state and you are safe
😂😂 the gist is plenty o. I just had to summarize it.
My face has not fully healed from the damage the water caused 🤧
Nysc is so useless. You're lucky you didn't have to experience it till the end.
I hated mine so much. Wouldn't advise anyone to go for it.
Tell me about it, I wonder why they even bother.
Covid 19 was my saving grace, I did not have to endure it for long
This story is so hilarious. You and my cousin have all had your fair share of the NYSC experience. Although he made a lot of friends and experienced an entire new culture and tradition in Akwa-Ibom state, but I must say, it's a total waste of 12months. Did he my cuz enjoy Uyo? yes he did albeit, a little. would he want to serve again? NO! ...lol
I am glad you your redeployment came through. Imagine living in a strange village for 12months.
To be honest I was not interested in the culture or anything in that place, I just wanted to leave.
I wouldn't have survived honestly. They lacked everything I needed to feel like I'm alive😂😂. That was just me though because the guys that was in my batch were actually having fun
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Smile.... I don't really like villages especially in the case of water and electricity. I hope that when it is my turn for NYSC, they would be giving an allowance of 100k to corpers and I would be in a place like Lagos. It is not bad for a man to dream afterall.
That was my major challenge, plus there was no network.
Well, you can actually earn 100k if you work with a private firm that pay corpers well. I had a friend who was collecting 70k monthly from his PPA plus federal government that is over 100k
Smile... Yeah that is true though but hopefully by then, I should be earning that amount weekly from Hive... That would be much more better for me.
Definitely will be much better. You won't have to stress about the stipend from NYSC
I am sorry about your experience. Yours is still better compared to many, at least you were able to redeploy, many were not that lucky. The scheme has its upsides and instead of scrapping totally, I will rather advocate for its reformation.
This is very true. The scheme has also benefited some people like the exposure, work experience, allowee for survival etc.
Yes it has its loopholes, but it can be worked on.
@blezyn I am happy you were not stuck in Kogi as you were able to redeploy.
I'm sad to hear the NYCS is not a good experience for people. If there is really a problem between different groups of people, this seems like a good way to smooth them out. The concept of this program sounds like a good one from the outside, but I can't really imagine the implementation and reality of it very well.
I think experiencing a year in a situation far from what we are used to is genrally good thing, even if it is uncomfortable but people need to be mentally prepared for it or have some good guidance there, otherwise it can be a wasted opportunity. I am not sure I'd feel good about it fresh out of school if the living conditions are uncomfortable and if I was sent to a dangerous area. A year is a long time for young people, maybe 3 months would be better.
Does it actually help the relationships between Yoruba, Igbo, Huasa and others? Is it hard work? Does anyone enjoy it? Can you make friends with people from other parts of the country there?
It is true that it is a good means to experience something different from what we are generally used to.
Most people do not really enjoy it. Like in my case I grew up in the city and then I'm posted to a village where I have no means of adaptability, it was really hard.
However some people do get posted to places that are very lovely to be, they do have a great time during the one year of service.
I am not really sure if it actually helps the relationship between tribes but one thing I know is wherever you're posted, the indigens treat you with respect. During my 2 months in Kogi state most of the people were really nice to me and it's like that everywhere.