My Experience: Out Of Lagos For The Clarion Call -By Bankole Shukurat Abiodun

Upon registration for the last batch of NYSC 2021 (Batch C), I was very skeptical about registration because I thought I wasn’t ready financially and mentally. Fortunately, I was called to serve my father land on the October 17 2021 to report to camp on October 20, 2021 at Dakin Gari camp, Kebbi State. I hadn’t completed my school screening, I hadn’t gotten a statement of the result as well. I had to do everything on the day I was asked to report to camp which makes the whole process very stressful and tiring.

Praise be to God, I got everything cleared and moved to park to board the bus going to my destination. The bus took off at night. The traveling experience was tiring being the first time out of Lagos State which I had spent my whole life in for 20 years, 9month and 5days old. Upon getting to camp the following day evening, after thorough checking at the search points and COVID-19 test, I proceeded to my hostel. When I got to the hostel, I met my roommates who had got to camp before me. I left the hostel that evening and proceeded to the registration point, I was shocked when I saw the crowd. Fortunately, they paused the registration for prayer, when I saw a vacant space at the front and I just quickly stayed there and I did my registration, got my kit that day. My roommates were shocked asking if I used jazz I responded with ‘jazz ke, I saw a vacant space and I entered’. They were like ‘you’ve used Lagos own for them there’, I laughed so hard.

During the registration, while so eager about joining OBS before it gets filled up, I asked one of the officials where OBS was located, he responded with ‘run and call that man going’ fortunately he was the acting head of OBS. The man told him, this you person wants to join OBS, he laughed and said come to the office behind the pavilion in the morning.

The next morning, I went to the office in search of the man who asked me to check back in the morning, Mr. Bala Dambena, he wasn’t in the office but a serving corps member (Mr. Favour) was there. I told him I was in search of Mr. Bala that he asked me to come this morning. He told me to check back. Later in the day, I went back to the office, I didn’t meet him again but the serving corps member, so he asked me ‘okay! What can you do? I told him newscasting, program presenting, scriptwriting, voiceover, radio drama, reporting, and all. He gave me an assessment to give an impromptu speech as a leader, I did it well. He said I should assume I’m on a program with someone, then interview the person, I did it well. So he asked me to write my name on a paper and check back. It was getting tiring.

I went back again in the evening, I didn’t meet him in the office. I went to the camp hall where he was seated coordinating registration for the NYSC book of life. I met him and told him ‘sir, I’ve been checking the office since morning but I didn’t meet you there’ so he said ‘let’s meet the following day by 4 pm for an introductory meeting with few other OBS member.

Finally, we had our first meeting, he briefed us about OBS and welcomed everyone into the family. On the first day on duty, I proposed a program and it commenced the following week.
I am always curious and furious about parade instructors being harsh when they hear OBS, maybe the are jealous of OBS, lol. I don’t know why parade instructors are always furious when we tell them we are going to OBS and not parade ground or we are OBS. One day, my parade instructor saw me under OBS tentt and said “you, you run go OBS ba? and you sabi the parade, why you com go? I replied with ‘i can do both’ and laughed.

Shebanky is a being that never gets discouraged and always wears many caps. In all, she’s always blessed by the Almighty.

Throughout my stay on camp, I report camp activities, broadcast news, represent my platoon in all speaking competition such as morning meditation, bridging the gap debate competition, and public speaking.

Everyone in camp corps members and camp officials inclusive loves my voice and my style of presenting. I get commendation every day. If any corps member or cap official sees me, he/she will say ‘ OBS I like your voice’, ‘wow! OBS I like you’, ‘OBS you too good, please keep it, ‘OBS what’s your field, ‘OBS which school did you finish from’, ‘OBS, when are your casting news?’ and many more commentaries.

Amazingly, Shukurat is loved by all including the State Coordinator, Camp Director, camp officials, and all corps members.

Moving forward to a night before camp exit day, I was quitelt seated at the pavilion thinking about the next life (service year) and redeployment result to be released the following morning before exiting camp, so I saw the serving corps member walking towards the parade ground, I just hasten to call him. If I had thought that he wanted to give us a task (carrying equipment) I would not have called him. Fortunately, he was looking for me and my co-presenter (Fanem Kwanum). So he said “so you are here, I’ve been looking for you, your attention is needed at the State Coordinator’s office”, I replied with “hope no problem?” He said, “they need you to come for a reading task” I smiled, stood up, and followed him.

However, when I got to the office I was told to read an old copy of the vote of thanks and I did. I was screened alongside two OBS member. But I was chosen to give the vote of thanks after the Director-General’s speech during the virtual meeting with the DG NYSC, Brig. Gen Shuibu Ibrahim the following morning which would hold across the Federation.

The long-anticipated day has come, all corps members are gathered at Dakin-Gari likewise in other states, after the DG NYSC’s speech, I gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the 2021 Batch C Stream 1 Corps members with eloquence and panache. I got positive feedback from him after the meeting, camp officials commended my effort as well. Friends across the federation make a video of me and on group chats and direct messages commending me for my performance. I felt like a celebrity this day, lol.

I never knew God has this plan for me despite all my excuses for choosing not to go camping with that batch. I went to Kebbi State, made a good name for myself, made my family, lecturers, friends, and school proud. I am proud of myself. Alhamdulillah.

LESSONS FROM MY CAMP EXPERIENCE

1. Wherever you are going, know that God has everything planned well for you.
2. Whatever role or duty you are given, give it your best and do it well.
3. Learn the rules and regulations of an organization and try to adapt to them.
4. Be open-minded
5. Every culture/tribe has its uniqueness, thus treats everyone equally.
6. Be disciplined
7. Be time-conscious
8. Be yourself.

KEBBI STATE COORDINATOR AND CAMP DIRECTOR’S ADVICE: ALHAJI MUHAMMAD MUSTAPHA AND MR. YAHYA JACOB NDAM.

Whenever you are given any task to do, do it diligently even if you are not paid to do it. You’ll surely get recognized and recommended for greater tasks one day. When you get to your Primary Places of Assignment, do your work diligently, even if they don’t pay you, there is always reward for everything.

SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO NYSC BATCH C STREAM 1 OBS CREW

Mr. Bala Dambena, Mr. Danmusulumi Bashir, Mr. favor, China China boy, Farnam, James, Manasseh, DJ Flames, Ebimo, Helen, Jessica, Jenifer, Chiodam, Blessing, Blessing, and Maria. I Love you all.

Long Live NYSC
Long Live Nigeria
Thank you and God bless.

Bankole Shukurat Abiodun (Shebanky) is a graduate of Lagos State University School of Communication.