Fully kitted in my NYSC uniform

It was the photographer that told me to pose that way and he INSISTED, so I had no choice :-)…maybe I did?!  I put the picture up cos it kinda tells the story :-)….moving along…

After I launched my blog I was off to camp for my NYSC. In camp we a far removed from real life, no internet, no tv, no nothing…( I exagerate a bit 🙂 ) . Below is a little bit about camp and some of the pictures…I wish I took more pictures…

The NYSC scheme was created in a bid to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian Civil war. The unfortunate antecedents in our national history gave impetus to the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps by decree No.24 of 22^nd May 1973 which stated that the NYSC is being established ‘with a view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of National unity’.

Since 1973 university and polytechnic graduates have been required to take part in the National Youth Service Program for one year. Corp members are posted to cities far from their city of origin in the expectation that they will interact with people of other tribes, social and family backgrounds and learn the culture of the indigenes. The ultimate goal is to unify the country and help the youths appreciate other ethnic groups.

 Walking to the parade ground for the swearing-in ceremony.Camp routine…..

There were 10 platoons and I was in platoon 2. Best platoon ever! My routine in camp involved waking up at 4a.m to get ready to go out for morning drills which is supposed to start by 5a.m and end by 8a.m. Morning drills involved prayer, praise worship, meditation and morning exercise. During this time the hostels are locked and if you can’t find anywhere to hide out you have to take part in this activities. The hostel is re-opened by 8.30am at the latest and we go back to freshen up and get ready for lectures that begin 11a.m, we get kicked out again for 2 hours of lectures under the BLAZING HOT SUN. Then we go back to the hostels for a couple of hours and then get kicked out again at 4pm to the parade ground to watch fellow corp members practice for the closing ceremony. This ends by 5pm. After 5pm we are home free…it’s our time to do whatever we choose to do (within the rules of course). Some people rehearse for their plays, some cultural dance and whatever activities they decide to engage it but majority of the corp members go to the bars and restaurants in ‘mami market’.

A group of Uni Ibadan AlumniBelow are pictures of the parade groundPictures from our lectures…In my white and white uniform and camp fire night! Some of my friends!