10,080 MINUTES AT NYSC CAMP

Eight months after my convocation, I was finally mobilized for NYSC to serve my country, Nigeria.

The National Youth Service Corps is a mandatory, post-tertiary scheme set up by the Nigerian government during the military regime of Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, to “reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian Civil war.” (Wikipedia)

Welcome to my NYSC experience.

Quick disclaimer: I’m no pro writer, so things might get a little messy — but don’t worry, you’ll catch the vibe.

I had zero interest in the 21-day orientation camp. To me, it felt like a complete waste of time; I had virtual classes, deadlines, and things that actually mattered. But my parents? They shut that down before I could even finish the sentence.

There was no escaping it. I became open, and was excited to go.

The day finally came. It was a rainy Wednesday, and the downpour slowed things down at the camp gate. You wouldn’t believe it, less than 20 minutes in, and I had already offended a fellow PCM. Apparently, I was allegedly responsible for the tragic fall of her bag, which, to be fair, was poorly balanced on a stair. That was my welcome.

I got checked in and was assigned a bed space. It hit me then, it was going to be a long ride. But honestly, that was just a small preview of everything that was to come. In about 45 minutes, I completed my registration, picked up my kits and camp tag, and before I knew it, I was fully dressed in white from head to toe.

Once we got to the parade ground, the drills kicked off, and just two days in, I was already listed to be part of those preparing for the inter-platoon drills competition. From the start, I had no plans of joining in. My escape plan? Signing up for The Orientation Broadcasting Service (OBS) — and thankfully, it worked.

Joining OBS was not just my escape plan from the drills, I didn’t just want to be another guy on camp. The moment the call for OBS members was announced, loads of people rushed to sign up. There was an application process that screened many out. Luckily for me, I had a friend on the inside who made sure my spot was secured (having proved myself worthy; I think I over explained why I should be picked).

Application Memo

My Application Letter

OBS ID

A day before officially joining OBS, I had submitted my details to my platoon coordinator. There was a call for a representative from each platoon to serve as one of the camp’s market police. I just wanted to play it safe — OBS or market police, one had to click.

Fortunately for me, I was picked and my JD was clear: stop Corp Members from entering the camp’s market at unauthorized times.

Market Police ID

If a sampling was to be conducted, it would show that 8 out of 10 CMs detest members of the market police. But who cares? The perks were attractive: skipping SAED lectures, unlimited access to maami market, and one other which can’t be disclosed.

Remember, everything that has happened was within my 10,080 minutes stay.

The part of camp I hated the most was the restroom. Using it felt like signing up for an infection. I saw things that still haunt me whenever I think about them. If only there were private restrooms — I honestly wouldn’t have minded paying a thousand or even two thousand naira just to use one.

I honestly don’t know how I pulled it off, but I only ate food from the camp kitchen once — and that was because Sunday jollof is famously the best thing on camp. The rest of the time, I survived on maami food and snacks. Expensive? A bit. Worth it? Absolutely.

Meal Ticket

Oh, my sleep routine? Completely wrecked. I was barely getting four hours of sleep each day. And let’s not even talk about those 2 A.M. cold morning baths, shivering and half-awake, with seven other corps members all rushing to bathe quickly so others could have their turn.

Lest I forget, I made a friend during registration who became my camp buddy. We did almost everything together, and having that kind of company honestly made life at camp a bit easier.

Unfortunately — and maybe fortunately — I fell ill along the way, and it became clear I had to leave camp. Honestly, I was sad. I was just starting to get immersed in the whole experience and found myself actually enjoying it.

After roughly 10,080 minutes, it was time to say goodbye to camp, and just like that, the chapter closed.

Would I love to experience camp again?

Yes, but only with better services, like proper accommodation and restrooms that don’t feel like a health hazard.

The truth is, enjoying camp is really up to you. It’s not about perfect conditions, because trust me, the conditions aren’t perfect. From not so comfortable accommodations to stressful routines and restrooms you wouldn’t wish on your enemy, NYSC camp will test you. But beyond the discomfort, there’s something else: the stories, the laughter, the people you meet, the memories you create without even realizing it.

You can choose to focus on what’s missing or lean into what’s happening. For me, what started out as something I didn’t want became an experience I grew into — chaotic, challenging, but somehow beautiful.

Now, I look forward to my one-year journey of serving the fatherland. Let’s see what it brings