Life comes in stages and with each stage comes greater challenges and responsibilities.
I did not fully understand this word "responsibility" until i had to travel to an unknown land whose language i could not speak, nor did i have anyone i knew there like a relative or friend.
This is the first hand experience of the Nigerian youth service corps (NYSC). They post people out of their comfort zone to go and serve the country, with only a budget allowance of #19, 800 naira for transportation, feeding, and other small needs. The reality of the matter is that the money itself is not just enough to cover all the costs, but that's just the country we live in.
I live in the federal capital territory of Nigeria, which is Abuja. Aside from Abuja, i have also been to Ekiti state which is where i had finished my university, and graduated with a bachelor degree in management and sciences for media and communications. I have also been to Lagos, the former capital territory although i only spent a week there. Lastly, i have been to my hometown, Kogi state, iyamoye. So aside all these places i have mentioned, i have not really been anywhere else.
After the posting letter of NYSC came out, I discovered I was posted to Sokoto state. I almost started shedding tears because Sokoto state was like the worst place anyone could be sent to in the world Lmao. Here are key points i assumed about the state:
- The state is a typical village, not developed in any sense.
- The state lacked water and power supply, my two most priced necessities Lolz.
- Boko haram terrorists frequent the state with attacks and bombings.
- Since it wasn't a developed state, i expected to see only mud houses and huts everywhere.
- They are not pride on education, so i assumed they all wouldn't know how to speak English.
- Sokoto state is known for its harsh weather in terms of heat. You guys think Nigeria is hot, wait till you visit Sokoto state, then i will allow you make your own review Lolz.
This were all my assumptions about the state and why i didn't like the idea that I was posted there. Infact when i told my mother, she shouted "JESUS!", because she didn't understand why of all places, i was posted there. She immediately called my dad who reacted the same way she did Lolz. He then proceeded to helping me try to get a redeployment worked out.
It was later confirmed that i had to go report on camp, in Sokoto state first before i could be redeployed. I was heart broken, shattered in a zillion pieces, extra grinder into powder and blown across the face of the earth.
MY TIME IN THE CAMP
I braced up courage and when the day finally came, i packed my bags and off i went in my journey to Sokoto state. I had also heard rumors of how far the state is from Abuja but i didn't really understand the full dexterity until i was on a journey to Sokoto state myself. It was as though the journey wouldn't end, we just kept on going and going and going. I had slept several times, i was now tired of sleeping and just lay awake looking at the bushes and desert plants.
I had started the journey by road from about 6am in the morning and finally got to Sokoto around 7pm in the night. I had traveled with other people who happened to be headed for camp too just like me. We were welcomed warmly at the camp gate and once we were inside, things changed. We were now on our own and hustled with the rest to do our registrations as soldiers paced about trying to keep order. I saw some of the newly posted members already in their uniform, learning how to match. I guess they came few days earlier.
It was tough in camp as i had never lived a regimented life before. There were always activities on camp and most of the time, we barely rested.
Aside from the strenuous activities, I also has fun in camp....
Another purpose of the NYSC is to bring different cultures together to embrace peace and foster friendship. We had lots of social events too, and cultural events where we showcased our various cultures and attires, ways, food, dances, and music. It was truly a fun experience to go through.
We were separated into platoons in camp, from Platoon 1 to Platoon 12. I belonged to Platoon 8, and it was an amazing Platoon filled with different talents.
Here is a music drama we did, i was dressed as a soldier in the drama. The music drama was birthed from popular Nigerian singers song " soldier by Falz".
The orientation camp had to end eventually and honestly I did not want it to end because I had so much fun and lost a lot of weight Lmao.
After camp we all reported to our various primary place of assignment to report for duty. I was sent to a Television station and my time there was quite fun also as I got to show my audio and video editing prowess.
So here is what i found out about Sokoto state in my one year of service there, as against the popular misconceptions:
- Sokoto has lots of beautiful modern houses and tarred roads too compared to some popular Nigerian states like kogi state.
- Sokoto state has more steady power supply than most states in Nigeria.
- Sokoto state has water too, although not in every part of the town.
- Sokoto people are very friendly towards non-indigenes and willing to render assistance.
- There has never been any case of book harm in Sokoto state up till now and it is not a sharia state.
- The people of Sokoto actually speak English, at least most of them do.
- The weather is extremely hot in Sokoto state. It got so bad Corp members started dieing due to the heat. We had to take injections to immune our system against the heat. The cold weather in Sokoto state too happens in extreme, even harmattan also.
So in conclusion, would I want to go back and do it all over again? Hell yea!!! Lolz...
See you guys next time and hope you enjoyed this journey with me.
Dee-y cares ®
