MY NYSC EXPERIENCE

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It was a horrible night for me when my friend @Stanley Uchehara called me to break the news of my posting to me.

The network was very bad that night from my end and my friend Stanley decided to help me check my call-up letter for me after I sent him all my details.

Before that very day, I had a dream and saw myself in an environment inhabited by Northerners, I woke up from that dream and told my mom about it, we prayed, kabashed, and even faster about it, I never wanted to serve in the North.

 My mom and everyone around me preferred the south or even West for me, having heard nice things about the Yoruba from my mom,(GIVEN THE FACT THAT MY MOM GROW UP IN A YORUBA LAND, IBADAN PRECISELY) I was eager to be there and have a first-hand experience.

Stanley sent me a screenshot of the call-up letter on Whatsapp and I refused to believe my eyes, having seen CONGRATULATIONS!! WELCOME TO  BIRNIN KEBBI.

How could God do this to me after having served him diligently? what happened to my mother's prayers, I taught they say mother's prayer work wonders.

It was a crying spree for me and my mom, remembering everything now, I just give out a smile.

We cried and cried and were still praying it changes by the time I get to the cyber café the next morning (how funny).

At the cybercafé the next morning, patiently waiting for my printout and being sure it was not a prank by Stanley, I was called upon and handed over my call-up letter, lo and behold, I was posted to KEBBI STATE.

God, na u do this one? There was no time to cry again, I had a few days to report to camp, and all that was left was an exhausted me recalling all my sins and the reason God chose to punish me like this.

Before I left Owerri for Kebbi I researched and asked for people who served in Kebbi and found people like @Jude Okpara and @Iheme Jacinta and reached out to them.

Jaycee encouraged me and told me he served in Kebbi and it`s not a big deal.

Jacinta was my course mate who was also posted to Kebbi, she gave me some contact of NYSC officials and told me people to meet once I get to camp to make things easier for me.

These people made the burden and cross lighter with their advice and encouragement.

On the deal day, I set out from Owerri to Abuja, which took a day, the next day without bathing nor brushing, I headed to the park at Jabi to get a bus going to Birnin Kebbi from there.

I was greeted with the harsh faces of some Hausa wheelbarrow guys and immediately my regrets on this journey increased.

Luckily for me, the Sienna bus I boarded from Jabi Park in Abuja had other corps members from the west going to our orientation camp in Darkin Gari, I was a bit relieved having English-speaking and understanding people around.

From Abuja to Kebbi was another day's journey, for someone like me who hasn`t crossed the river Niger before, it was a mixed feeling of adventure and annoyance, as my butts were more than stretched and pained.

Getting to Darkin Gari camp I vowed not to stay in this state more than 3 weeks.

I was praying in my heart to be diagnosed of covid 19, so I can be kept at the isolation centers and given automatic redeployment to any state of my choice.

Unfortunately, that didn`t happen, and I had to face the realities as no one had my time, nor was looking at my face, I saw excited people parading under that hot sun, people who didn't care about the environment but the experience, I decided to kill the anger and range in me and enjoy the best of the moment and redeploy after.

Those 3 weeks changed my perspective about life and I wanted to stay and see life from another perspective.

I was an active member in O.B.S. and was allowed to redeploy if I wanted.

Funny to my parents and siblings,  I declined and decided to stay, I called home and told them of my decision.

I served my complete 1 year in Kebbi state and appreciated that I never redeployed.

It wasn`t all rosy, I had my bad days but I met amazing individuals in Kebbi, ranging from my P.P.A. to my CDS to CHURCH to LODGE, everyone was just a blessing to me and I saw life and purpose from another perspective.

I miss Birnin Kebbi and all the amazing people as I write this.

This is to NYSC @50

Nigeria called and I obeyed

Batch A stream 1 2021

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