By Usman Mujtaba Shehu
The National Youth Service Corps scheme idea was to expedite contacts across cultural zones and bridge the cultural gaps, and surmount cultural stereotypes.
Being in an NYSC dress is a dream come true for me. Having visualized how it would feel or how I would look in it about two decades ago, I’m thrilled to experience it finally. When I was younger, I used to wear my father’s NYSC ceremonial shirt. Although it was oversized, the tip reaching my knee sparked my interest in the NYSC program.
The question isn’t just about the dress but about the experience and feeling of being a Corp member. That’s what many people long for. During the registration process, I didn’t encounter many hitches. The main challenge was the duration of my university program, which was prolonged due to the long ASUU strike and the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Apart from these two reasons, all the delays were natural, stemming from the nature of my school’s (ATBU) calendar. The NYSC registration, receiving my call-up number, and anticipating my state of deployment were challenging. I spent 13 hours in the CAFE in the queue waiting to be registered. Additionally, I waited several more hours to receive my call-up number and was eventually deployed to Dakin Gari Orientation Camp in Kebbi State.
When I saw the call-up letter, I was sad, and my mind wandered to the 1-day, almost 12-hour journey ahead. After arriving at Birnin Kebbi, I had to find a taxi to the camp, which was a struggle. It took me 4 hours to get a cab and another 2 hours to reach my destination. I arrived at the camp in the evening, around 5:30 pm. Luckily, the registration queue had been reduced, so I didn’t have to wait.
After checking my bag, I proceeded to the admin block for registration. I discovered my platoon from my state code, which was like a registration number. And from the last digit, I knew I was in platoon 4. I collected my meal ticket, which served as a food ID, and was given a mattress and bed space in the Boys’ Hostel (3).
After settling in, I attended another registration session conducted by the platoon officer. Once completed, I received a set of light-green khaki, the NYSC ceremonial shirt, an orange boot, a white cover shoe, a customized cap, and two pairs of short white trousers and shirts. I felt mixed emotions, reflecting on the future and how it would unfold.
Is it true that the orientation is difficult? In the NYSC Orientation Camp, you feel a sense of belonging regardless of your background or who you are. This is rooted in the NYSC act and the orientation design, which aligns with their motto of “humility and service.” The process is humbling, bringing together people from diverse tribes, such as Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Ebra, Tiv, and Fulani.
Religious activities are also accommodated, with three Christian prayer points and one mosque. This allows Corp members to practice their faith without discrimination.
The sense of togetherness is reinforced by the uniform dress code, which includes white shirts and trousers, customized shirts with NYSC alphabets emblazoned on the front, and khaki trousers with boots and customized caps for ceremonies. Trust among Corp members develops quickly as they view themselves as similar or familiar, united by their platoons.
Platoons unite Corp members, and my platoon (platoon 4) leader, a Yoruba from Lagos, exemplified this unity. With 10 platoons, each comprising over 100 Corp members from different states, backgrounds, languages, and cultures, we were united under a shared platoon identity designed by NYSC to foster unity and patriotism.
People tend to trust those within their in-group, and belonging is a primal instinct. When Corp members display attitudes, beliefs, or platoon membership, others tend to like and trust them more. My response to lowering the Nigerian flag every 6:00 pm still amazes me. Every activity would come to a halt when the trumpet was blown.
My new identity became my platoon. I made new friends across all platoons, but Platoon 4 became like family. Competitions were organized to strengthen bonds within platoons. I participated in the football competition and cheered for my platoon in the parade competition, cooking, cultural dance (Edo Dance), and other events.
I attended over 30 lectures and sensitization sessions with my platoon, covering education, health, relocation, finances, and more topics. I only separated from my platoon during the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) launch. Corp members were allowed to choose their training. I attended and listened to about 30 lectures and sensitization sessions with my platoon. The lectures cover almost all areas, including education, health, relocation, finances, etc.
That was how we were shared with eight different skills Acquisition classes. I chose ICT and learned basic Data analysis and graphic design using pixels.
The orientation is rigorous and tedious. But when I reflect on the whole objective of the NYSC initiative itself, it’s worth it. It’s not a pointless activity but a scheme meant to instil discipline, love of country, and love of one another. As mentioned in the national anthem: ‘Though tribes and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand’.
Usman Mujtaba Shehu wrote via usmanmujtabashehu@gmail.com.
