People say a lot of things about NYSC camp, many of which are wrong. This has caused a lot of bad feelings about the NYSC orientation camp and many prospective corps members are discouraged about the camp experience. This post will help you correct some of those wrong things.
1. “NYSC camp is boring.”
Look, NYSC camp is not boring. There are a number of activities designed to keep you engaged: parade, SAED lectures, drills, social nights, pageants, etc. How can one feel bored amongst all these activities? Yes, SAED lectures can be boring (I slept through a major part of them to be honest), but NYSC camp being boring or interesting depends on what you make of it. There are close to 1,000 people in camp. You’ll meet people of different ages, social class and educational backgrounds. Why would such an experience be boring?
2. “Camp food is bad.”
Well again, this is not exactly true. In my camp (Borno state), they didn’t salt the rice and the yam was sometimes a disaster. But they made good pap, good egusi soup, and good akara. The thing is this: if you had to grade it, camp food would get a C, not an F, as people would make you believe.
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3. “You can have sex in camp freely.”
Lmao abeg, abeg. I don’t think this possible. Everywhere in camp is basically an open space. How can you have sex in the open? And given how tired we all are after a day’s activities, how can anyone have time to knack? Yes, I have heard that people caught having sex are decamped and sent home immediately. But the question is, where did they have the sex? People claim they have sex in the bush, toilet, on the grass, etc. What is 21 days that you cannot hold body for? Because I don’t get how you people will press each other to a smelly toilet wall for something that won’t last. Why not finish camp and devour yourselves like bread? That’s how me I see it o.
4. “NYSC camp is a waste of time.”
No, I don’t think so. Think of NYSC camp as an opportunity to travel, to see a place(s) you would not have traveled to anyway. Imagine being posted to Anambra or Sokoto when you’ve spent your entire life in Lagos or Ibadan. Quite naturally, you would not have gone there on your own. But NYSC has given you a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore. Why not enjoy it?
5. “NYSC will foster national unity (One Nigeria).”
This is a bitter truth we all must swallow. NYSC cannot foster national unity. When you get to camp, you’ll understand this more. NYSC camp is the foremost place for tribal segregation and politics. The agenda is to ensure that youth from various tribes miX and get to interact, but a lot of these youths come to camp with their minds already made up. Which is why, when anything happens, people are quick to point fingers: “Oh, Yoruba people have started”; “See them, Igbo people”; “Just look at, Hausa people.” It’s sad how things have turned, but that’s the reality of things. It’s up to you to broker peace and unity wherever you find yourself. Nigeria will thank you for that.
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