NYSC Orientation Camp Preparation
Preparation Tips you should know before
going to camp:
This piece was compiled to educate the
prospective Corps Members and any
other interested party on what to expect
in and outside the NYSC Camp. You can
share with your friends too.
Let's go!
MIND PREPARATION :
You need to prepare your mind that you
are leaving home for a regimented life in
the camp. Life in the camp is deliberately
made stressful so as to prepare you for
any challenge that may confront you
outside the camp. You will not find it too
comfortable, It' s a camp and not your
flat! Just be ready for anything.
ITEMS YOU WILL NEED
1. Very Important Ones
a. Statement of Result
b. School ID Card
c. Passport photographs (30 copies,
Surplus is better than inadequacy)
d. Call-Up Letter (DO NOT laminate it
please).
e. A Clear Bag file (To house the above
items)
f. Most importantly, Your Bible.
NB: Get 10 photocopies each of items
A,B, and D above. The copies may be
surplus.
2. Important Ones ( For your
Convenience)
a. Stapler, pin and office gum (will save
you the stress of 'borrow-me')
b. Two or three white T-shirts and shorts
(You will be given two sets but you may
not like the quality).
c. Two or three pairs of socks and a white
rubber tennis shoes (for d rainy days).
d. Bathroom slippers. Dettol
f. Two plastic buckets (You can buy it in
the camp but it will be more expensive)
and a permanent marker.
g. Sponge and its case, bath-soap and
detergent
h. Bedsheet, towel and wrapper and two
pairs of casual wear. Just have them.
i. Mosquito Net (not compulsory)
j. Handkerchiefs (very important
especially for those dat sweat like xmas
ewu)
k. Waist bag (very very important for
housing your phones, ID Cards,
Handkerchief, biros, etc)
l. Novels
m. Small-sized Torchlight/Rechargeable
lamp (small one please)
n. Your ATM card(s)
o. Cooler (not a party cooler please) cup
and spoon. Fork is not allowed
p. Phone and charger
q. Beverages
r. Ladies could add any other few
conveniences. I believe you understand
me
s. Money! Money! Money! Hold good cash
please depending on how you spend.
GO EARLY!
Even if the camp is on your street, go
early. If you are posted to a far state, go
the day before the camp opens. They will
allow you in. Going late will make you go
through registration stress. Be warned !
SCREENING
It starts at the gate. They dont want u to
bring in prohibited items like iron, knive,
bombs, etc.
REGISTRATION
The first one is for hostel/bedspace. Then
the paper registrations proper. Make
everything ready. Look out for
information pasted on walls. Follow
instructions strictly.
YOUR KITS
During the registration, you will get your
kits - shirts, shorts, etc. Use the marker
to write your Code Number (CN) on them
'sharp-sharp" You will also be given a tag
that will show your CN. That will be your
ID Card temporarily. You take it
EVERYWHERE in camp. You will be given a
meal ticket. Misplace it and forget about
NYSC food (hunger will finish Ʋ if Ʋ no get
moni)
DURATION
You will be in the camp for 20 full days.
The 21st day is the day you will leave
camp.
THERE YOU GO!
Immediately you have your kits, only your
T-shirt and shorts with the tennis shoe
are allowed on you. No room for casual
wears. Parade/ marching training starts
immediately. The soldiers will not give
you breathing space at all. You will have
the first one that same Day One. Watch
Out! people could be fainting on the
Parade Ground. You won't faint, calm
down...
So eat well. It's the stress that causes
their fainting. Don't form superman o,
EAT !
YOUR MORNINGS
A small trumpet wakes you at 5am.
Everybody gathers at the Parade Ground
(PG) at 5:30am. You have your praise,
worship and prayer the Christian and
Muslim ways. Blah-blah-blah till the day
breaks finally. Breakfast follows!
After eating, you will be called out again
for the series of programmes lined up for
you. Then you have your lunch. Rest a
little and you are out again for evening
parade. Then later your dinner. This will
repeat itself everyday perhaps except on
Sunday.
THE FOOD
You may not like the food. You can always
go to the Mammy Market (MM) i.e the
Camp Market to fill your 'tank' with
delicacies at your cost.
STEALING
This is 'legalised'. They can steal anything.
Be wise.
SOLDIERS
Hmmm, Obey them o. They can punish
you. No walking, its all jogging wen they
call u. Dont postrate or kneel down
greeting a soldier. Do it the soldier way.
They could be friendly anyway. Be wise.
ALLOWEE
Your first allowance will be given to you in
the camp cash. All other ones will be
through the bank. You will get Bicycle
Allowance.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photographers are ready to snap you
every minute. Manage your cash.
...............
NOW, YOU ARE ABOUT GOING OUT OF
THE CAMP YOUR POSTING
You will be posted from the camp to
where you will work. The place you work
in is called your Place of Primary
Assignment (PPA). Hear this: most
Corpers, I mean about 90% of the
Corpers will be posted to schools
(especially primary and secondary
schools). Only VERY FEW will be posted to
the universities, polytechnics and
Colleges.
Please! Don't lobby for your posting.
Don't pay ANYBODY for assistance. Pray
rather than pay. Gone are the days when
Corps Members are posted to Banks and
Co. Receive the shocking or expected
postings as you receive your letters with
joy. It's a clarion call to service; that's
what dey call it.
GOING OUT: TRANSPORTATION
When you get your Posting Letter, the
first place to go to is your PPA. If you are
identified with the Fellowship in camp,
you may first report at the TEMPORARY
lodge they will provide. Then you could
report at your PPA later same day or the
following day.
Please, when you leave the camp, home-
sweet-home will be on your mind, having
been used up in the camp. But please,
don't go home straight. Please!
Very few of your employers (i.e. PPAs)
will send down vehicles to convey you
from the camp to their workplaces.
Private and some Govt higher education
institutions do. The Fellowship too make
arrangement for you at your cost.
Commercial transporters will likely be
available at the gate too. Be wise.
ACCOMMODATION ::
You don't know anybody in Damaturu or
Ekiti! Where will you sleep on the first
day? The Fellowship may give you a
TEMPORARY accommodation pending the
time you will HAVE TOGET YOURS. You
could be lucky if your employer gives you
a room. Many of them don't give Corpers
accommodation anyway. So be prepared
to rent one at your cost. Your first
'allowee' which you received in the camp
is already going down!
REGISTRATIONS
This is why you don't have to go home
straight. Your registration at the NYSC
Office in the Local Govt you will be
posted to is important. Failure to
complete it before going home is the
beginning of a Corper's cup of tea. He
may begin to have problems with his
subsequent monthly allowances. Do all
registrations first. Then you can take
permission to go home. Permission to go
home? Long process! You will know why
it's so. Well, I hope dese few tips will go
a long way.