Things You Must Know When Going for NySC Orientation Camp

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The 21 days in camp could be the best or worst period in your life depending on how you want it to be for yourself.

To make it your best period, adapt from the very first day you arrive in the Orientation Camp.

These are some of the things that may help get you started on the right track.

1. Prepare yourself very well:

First and foremost, you need to prepare your

mind that you are leaving home for a regimented life in the camp. Life in the camp is deliberately made stressful so as to prepare you for any challenge that may confront you outside the camp.

2. Go to camp with these items (you can write these down somewhere).

a. Your statement of Result.

b. Your school ID Card ( or final year I.D. card).

c. Passport photographs (Just go with 8 copies, but if you forget this one, don't worry there are many passport photographers in camp that will be begging to snap you, disregard every rumor that says you should go with 20 or 30).

d. Call-Up Letter (DO NOT laminate your call-up letter please).

e. A Clear Bag file (To house the above items).

Important Ones

Below are additional items you may need to go with, but you can still buy them from 'mami market inside the orientation camp.

a. Stapler, pin, Biro and office gum.

b. Two or three white T-shirts and shorts (You will be given two sets but you may not like the quality).

c. Two or three pairs of socks and a white rubber tennis shoes (for rainy days).

d. Bathroom slippers, toiletries, towel and Dettol.

e. Two plastic buckets.

f. Permanent marker (you need this to write your name on your properties)

g. Sponge and its case, bath-soap and detergent.

h. Bed spread, towel and two pairs of casual wear for Sunday services.

i. Mosquito Net

j. Handkerchiefs or face towels

k. Waist bag (very important for housing your money, phones, ID Cards, biros, etc)

l. Small-sized Torchlight/Rechargeable lamp (small one please).

m. Your ATM card(s).

n. Cooler, cup, plate and spoon and water bottle.

o. Beverages or provisions.

p. Ladies could add any other few conveniences e.g. Sanitary pads etc.

NOTE: You can still buy them from 'mami

market, so it is either you come along with them or come with enough money to buy them from mami market because price is double the amount per items. E.g bucket of N300 will N600 at the Mami market.

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3. Arrive early:

Please, no matter how close the camp might be to your village, go early. If you are posted to a far state, go the day before the camp opens. They will allow you in. Going late will make you go through registration stress. Be warned!

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4. Screening:

The screening starts at the gate, where your

luggage is thoroughly searched. Officials don't want you to bring in prohibited items like iron, knives, etc.

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5. Registration

The first registration will certainly be for hostel/ bed space, where you’ll be given tags to identify with. Then the proper registration follows. Try as much as possible to make everything available.

Look out for information pasted on walls and follow instructions strictly.

6. Your Kit:

During the registration, you will get all your kits from your platoon officer (Kaki, NySC, crested Vest, 2 Plain Vests, 2 shorts, Jungle Boot and White shoes). Use the marker to write your Code Number on them! You will also be given a tag that will show your Code Number but if you wish to change your shoes size you are allowed to change from any prospective corps member from another platoon or from the store room.

NOTE: Your platoon number is the last digit of your state code. For example 118, that is to say you are in  platoon 8.

Your tag with ur state code on it will serve as your temporary ID Card. You take it everywhere in camp.

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You will be given a meal ticket. Misplace it and forget about NYSC food.

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7. Duration:

You will be in the camp for 20 full days. The 21st day is the day you exit.

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8. No room for casual wear:

Once you have your kits, only white T-shirt and white shorts with the white tennis shoes are permissible.

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The soldiers will not give you breathing space at all. People usually faint on the Parade Ground.

But you won’t faint because you are prepared.

Eat well, prepare well and you will be motivated and good to go.

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9. Morning parade:

A small trumpet wakes you at 5am. Everybody gathers at the Parade Ground at 5:30am. You have your praise, worship and prayer the Christian and Muslim ways and also your meditations. Breakfast follows by 8am after morning admonitions. 

Subsequently, corps members will summoned for a series of programme. Then it’s lunch next, after this make sure you get some rest as you will be out again for evening parade before dinner.

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10. Hate the food, Pay the cost:

You may not like the food served. So you can.always go to the Mami Market to fill your ‘tank’ with delicacies at your cost.

11. Skills Acquisition Entrepreneurial Development (SAED) will be organized with lectures.

12. Stealing:

A lot of things go missing during the 21 days in camp. Be wise. Don’t take too many valuables to camp.

13. Soldiers:

Soldiers are not permitted to beat you; however,.they discipline erring corps members. But they could be your best asset during the orientation camp period. Most of them are friendly.

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14. Allowee!:

Your first allowance (N19, 800) will be given to.you in the camp; it will be in cash. All other ones will be through the bank. You will also get N1,500 Bicycle Allowance and N1,000 transport allowance to your PPA after camp.

15. Photography:

Photographers will be everywhere ready to snap, please be prudent in spending.

16. Place of Primary Assignment (PPA):

You will be posted from the camp to where you will work. The place you work in is called your.Place of Primary Assignment (PPA). 95% will be posted to schools where they will teach. Don’t lobby for your posting. Don’t pay anybody for assistance. Pray rather than pay. Gone are the days when Corps Members are posted to Banks, Oil companies and Co. Receive the shocking or expected postings as you receive your letters with joy. It’s a clarion call to serve!

17. Transportation out of camp:

When you get your Posting Letter, the first place to go to is your PPA. If you are identified with the Fellowship in camp, you may first report at the temporary lodge they will provide. Then you could report at your PPA later same day or the following day. Please, when you leave the camp, home- sweet-home will be on your mind, having been used up in the camp. But please, don’t go home straight. Very few of your employers (i.e. PPAs) will send down vehicles to convey you from the camp to their workplaces.

18. Accommodation at PPA:

You don’t know anybody in Benue or Kogi, so where will you sleep on the first day? The Christian or Muslim Fellowship may give you a temporary accommodation pending the time you will have to get yours. You could be lucky if your employer gives you a room. Many of them don’t give corps members accommodation, anyway. So be prepared to rent one at your cost. Your first ‘allowee’ you received in camp could be used to secure temporary allowance. But that is if you haven’t spent it.

19. Clearance:

This is why you don’t have to go home straight. Your registration (clearance) at the NYSC Office in the Local Government you will be posted to is important. Failure to complete it could spell disaster. For example, you may have problems with subsequent monthly allowances. Do make sure you do all registrations first. Then you can take permission to go home.

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