My NYSC Experience As A Microcosm of Nigeria

Hello, everyone. Easter is around the corner. Those who celebrate are getting ready for the observation. Those who don't celebrate have Easter Monday to look forward to. And those who don't care...who cares? Lol! I'm going to give you a though-provoking entry for this time of reflection, for this period that the guilty is set free and the innocent executed, as the scriptures have told us (talking about Christ and his execution), I'm going to discuss my experience with the NYSC and how the events of that time have not let me grow the way I have worked hard. I am not casting aspersions but letting things out so that any enemy who has been hiding in the corner of lies is exposed. I shall liken my experience as Nigeria is run: if my place of primary assignment were Nigeria how would it be run. Everybody is blaming the hardship in the country on the president. If you were President Buhari how would you run your own Nigeria? Will you let people use their relationship with you to get away with all sorts of evil and nefarious activities. Or let your men have a holiday every day. The names mentioned here are real names, and I am aware of the implications but I am not afraid because I have come into equity with clean hands.

I started my tertiary education in Ibadan officially in 1999 given delays from ASUU and internal problems at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. I had applied to JAMB to study Civil Law but due to the Nigerian Factor I ended up with an admission to study Igbo. I graduated with a second class upper division bachelor of arts in 2004. I went to camp in Iseyin, Oyo State in late 2004. I passed out of the National Youth Service Corps in 2005. Prior to observing the COMPULSORY NYSC in 2004 I learnt that the corps was open to every Nigerian graduate of universities and polytechnics till the age of 30. Everybody above 30 years was exempted from the service and was required to receive an exemption certificate. You can now imagine my deep shock when I encountered women (actually two) whom I believed were over 30 years. The University of Ibadan would not mobilize any graduate over the age of 30 for the NYSC. She graduated students on the basis of character and learning. I'm impressed that the university still uses this yardstick judging from the recent rustication of a student leader for four semesters (two years).

I left the NYSC camp on a bus. One of the corps members named Ugochi/Barbara from Imo State in the place of primary assignment that I was assigned came to camp at Iseyin to pick up corps members for the school that I was assigned. I was asked to teach Igbo at Air Force Comprehensive School Iyana Offa near Ibadan. 

To be continued.....