When my NYSC call up letter mandated me to report at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Old Macgregor college, Afikpo North L.G.A of Ebonyi, state, it was like pouring a chilled bucket of water on me. This was because I had my service year planned out. I was absolutely sure of serving in a Southwestern state, together with my friend who was later catapulted to Benue.

And so, on the 4th of August, 2014, I embarked on a long distance journey by road. For the first time in my over twenty years of birth, I crossed the Niger bridge. I marvelled at the architecture while speaking to myself, "this is the bridge I read about in my primary school days." We soon got to Anambra, South East's commercial nerve center. I grew more impatient, it's been over 7 hours since my bottom has been glued to the sit, to worsen the matter, I sat at the rear.

10 hours after we left Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, we arrived at the orientation camp. The 3 weeks orientation course was the most rigorous exercise I've ever encountered. Worsening the situation was camping during the rainy season, I'm allergic to cold. It was however fun towards the end.

I met different categories of graduates. Those who wrote 'single' for relationship with next of kin, or one contestant for Miss NYSC who gave the full meaning of A.T.M as 'Any Time Money,' (probably because her boyfriend gives her money anytime she ask him), a boy and girl caught having carnal knowledge of each other at odd hour on the parade ground. How would I forget in a hurry, those girls that fought and tore their 'white on white' over a guy they met barely two and half weeks ago.

As for the scheme, how I'm supposed to master fish, snail and rabbit rearing within 3 days is a question still left unanswered.

I was posted to a private school in the state capital for my primary assignment. I taught Chemistry for a whole year without showing the students a test tube, the school had no laboratory. As 'old' as I was, the students felt I was too young to be a graduate. Really? I said to myself, "these people never sheee something."

The best moment of my service year was the opportunity to serve my country beyond the classroom. As a Presiding Officer at the 2015 general elections, it feels so great to be escorted to polling units by security agents with election materials and escorted to the collation centre with the result sheet.

The people of the East are not bad as being portrayed. Yes! you read that.  Throughout my service year, I lived in an apartment paid for by the church, free of charge and whole lot of interesting experience that space would not permit me to pen down.

The service year further affirmed what I've always believed that irrespective of tribe or religion, there are only two kinds of people, the good and the bad.

Lest I forget, returned to the Pace-Setter State not just with my Certificate of National Service, I'm also a trained and certified photographer. So don't hesitate to call on me for your events photography service at any time.

Serving in Ebonyi was great, I hope to be back to the salt of the nation in the near future.

Finally, I have served my fatherland, it is time for Nigeria to serve me.


http://www.lifebuildingtips.com/2015/07/my-nysc-year-in-retrospect.html

K