On that fateful day, I remember so well how my emotions were pent up, the list was finally out and oh! Sola, where have you been posted to?
In somber retrospect, I checked the NYSC portal

......
......

If I think back a little, I remembered that time in the cafe where I was to select state visited.

I chose just two state (Lagos and Edo), with hopes of getting posted to the east ( Let me go make use of the sit at home and concentrate on my online jobs then merry with mama ChukwudI as I try out different dish...)

My high hopes plummeted when It dawned on me that I have been shifted to stream 2. How do I tell family members and friends that I'm no more going for camp?

In three weeks, this all changed. I got called up on the 16th of March, 2022.
Well, this is my sojourn to Yikpata, an NYSC camp in kwara state.

To be continued...

Welcome to Yikpata Camp, the land of wonders.

The heat is too much,
The cold is too much,
The dust is too much,
And some others....

I hope the water is now too much. This reminds me of Captain Jack, my cubicle mate. He never queued for water but would beg everyone in the cubicle for a bowl of water. The guy is a comedian; he would be murmuring anytime the soldiers came around to force the Corps members to sleep & we would silently beg him to stop because almost all was still trying to recover from the pain of the frog-jumps we had one night.

Camp director: Ina Kwanan Ku?
Corps members: Lafia lau!

We had a funny, caring & lovely Camp director then.

ImoleNaija:
Welcome to Yikpata Camp, the land of wonders.

The heat is too much,
The cold is too much,
The dust is too much,
And some others....

I hope the water is now too much. This reminds me of Captain Jack, my cubicle mate. He never queued for water but would beg everyone in the cubicle for a bowl of water. The guy is a comedian; he would be murmuring anytime the soldiers came around to force the Corps members to sleep & we would silently beg him to stop because almost all was still trying to recover from the pain of the frog-jumps we had one night.

Camp director: Ina Kwanan Ku?
Corps members: Lafia lau!

We had a funny, caring & lovely Camp director then.

So no be say you even dey camp like this sef �

JimmyDripp:


So no be say you even dey camp like this sef �

19C, stream 1.

This is a work of fiction well, with a touch of reality.

I'm currently serving in yikpata camp (kwara state) and I must say the heat here is EXTREME, and water too is an issue tho'. Still tryna get used to it tho'

First, I was lost on what to buy. what should I get in the market? I'm not used to haggling but I had to do it. Gave a call to Ahmed and he said I should get a white rubber shoe and socks. Also, I need a waist pouch and he said it's optional
How wrong he was? The need for a moderate waist pouch can't be overemphasised here in camp. You need a moderate pouch for keeping of valuables. Because he said it's optional, I got a small pouch, two socks, a bathroom slippers, a three in one white vest, two white short

I knew when I got to the camp, I won't be able to charge my phone in hostels. Only in a market that was known as (Mammy Market). Much details on this market later.


Knowing that, the need for a power bank was so much. Just two days for me to resume and I had to order the oraimo 27000 Mah power bank.
The time frame for delivering it is too long and the igbo guy sold me a new age power bank.


By now, I have spent so much money then I realised that I have to photocopy my document.

I saw a shop open and it must be new since I haven't taken much notice to it. I strolled in hurriedly, I have already spent half of the day and I'm no where near finished.

I was furious as to what document to photocopy, I was told that I only needed 5 document - School ID CARD, Call up letter, greencard, passport (atleast 10), statement of result and they should all be original.

For me, I already collected my certificate and on collection of that certificate, My school ID card was taken


I hope there won't be problem when I get to camp and the camp officials ask me to go back to school... That would be a waste of money. I'm just pensive

Fortunately, a very good colleague of mine called me saying he is going to camp the next day.

"Sola, howfar na? "

"I dey o"
"Long time, how your side"

"Omo, I just dey stressed up oo. I dey run some things for here "

" Sola, me dey go Kwara tomorrow ooo... One camp like this... Yikpa... "

"Yikpata" I completed his statement - " So, BNXN, you dey go Yikpata too, Na there dem post me o"


We spoke at length and I asked him the day he is to report. He said two days ago, almost same as mine.

How happy I was knowing he is to move the next day and .... It's made having a friend I really care for coming to same camp as me.





In the night, mum prepared a delicious meal and I savored every moment knowing it's a send forth meal concealed in form of good gesture.

I bet the woman is tired of me

I left that early morning and 9am, I was already at Mile 2 on my way to Camp.

I reasoned I will get thing like bucket on the road. What a wise decision it is. I travelled light.

Reaching Mile 2, being that I mostly take Iyare and Efex motors, I had no idea where to find buses going to Ilorin



Below is a pics of mile 2

Here it is

From Mile 2, I was up on taking pictures.

Somewhere in Ibadan

The road was pliable
It was a long Journey. Before the bus took off, I spent 3 hours at the park

Ancient town of Oyo

From oyo, it was like 59km to Ogbomoso.

Verry faaaar


Ogbomoso

After the whole travail towards evening, I got to Ilorin...

My perception of the town was obscured. It looked old and modern at the same time. I found that they have an international airport. I'm not too sure if it's international or local but it looked like it.

Finally
Ilorin

That's how it looks like from my view

Got to Ilorin and from there to post office then finally Maraba which I'm to board a car to Yikpata. I wished I didn't buy some things like a white short from home, it's lesser in Maraba or its just me
Maybe I don't know how to haggle price much. From Maraba, to Ilorin, the driver said he is collecting #1,500
That's where I knew the journey just started.
I had to buy a towel and a bedspread at Maraba plus 2 buckets
We moved in the name of the father and it was such a long journey. The motor even break down along the road but it was something that needed a quick fix.

That was when the driver revealed he is a NUPE. They are even known as Tapa and their language sounds so much like Yoruba. I could decode what they are saying to a large extent.


After spending two -three hours on the road, I got to Yikpata. It was a camp with no fence

The driver said the reasons for this is due to the security of the place

I was told if I continue moving ahead before we made a detour, I will get to Niger.


It was night, I couldn't enjoy the scenery

As we approached the camp in the camp, time was past 9. There were camp officials at the entrance who directed our motor to move back

We alighted and moved towards the barricaded point and we're asked to open our bags. Inspection started in earnest and we were fooled by those sellers at Maraba that said they don't accept Metal spoons. It was accepted but those who came with half crocs (A particular type of shoe) were confiscated. Thank God I didn't bring one

As we registered at the gate, we were directed to the clinic for Covid 19 test. I was pensive as I watched how it was being done. Something like a long wool is taken into the nose stream and then screwed sideways, left alone then removed . It was a gruesome process as I watched but the student that were tested didn't budge at it. I felt it wasn't a big deal as I watched
Deep down, I was still scared.

I was sitting on the long bench outside waiting for my turn

" Who no no say Warri na Pako?"

I heard a guy bellowed as he talked continuously.

Well, why do many Warri guys have to do this? I just sat there with BNXN till it got to my turn.


" Bros, abeg suffry oo, "

" Wetin you bring for me na"

He asked with enthusiasm indicative of a young professional

He brought the Wool and inserted it to my nose. Well, what we fear is a false perception of reality. It wasn't as bad as I thought.

Met an Igbo girl that night that was sticking to me and BNXN. She is not that beautiful so I don't really take I twist in her. We exchanged names and got talking about our different institutions.

When we all finished at the clinic, we were told to go to the main hall and come look at me asking for directions everywhere
Seeing as people were putting on their white on white was ... a spectacular sight

I just kept walking hoping my registration goes smoothly.

Getting to the hall was the exact moment the officials were closing the gate.
What this means is that there is no where for us to sleep that night.

We went back to where we kept our bags and ask the officials if we could get a temporary lodge or something.

Time was already 10 -11pm

A man who I later find out to be part of the officials asked us to follow him when he asked where we were heading to

He took us to a hostel that was partitioned into several room. Oh! He took the girl to a different hostel

Jackossky:

Time was already 10 -11pm

A man who I later find out to be part of the officials asked us to follow him when he asked where we were heading to

He took us to a hostel that was partitioned into several room. Oh! He took the girl to a different hostel

Were you expecting to stay in the same room? Oya continue.

The room had a fan. Not bad for a hostel. I want to clear this, on my first visit, the hostel was not that bad to sleep in. Just a student sized bed and you have to use your bedspread to cover it and then sleep.

do I have to mention, though we had fan in our room, It wasn't working. Well, I realised that the problem is coming from the switch and it's something we can fix the next day

The Ventilation coming from the windows was enough to cool everyone. What a respite from today's stress?
Only if I had known what was to come...

Preparation began in earnest to get registered the next day. seeing the document I was to submit, I knew I didn't have one of it. We were asked to submit passport, Certificate and those I wrote earlier

The thing was, whenever my school give a certificate, you'd be asked to submit your school ID.

Some were asked to submit their WAEC result due to the fact that they look older than the age they claimed to be


"With this scrawny look and old face, how come you are just 27 years old. Show me your WAEC Certificate "

This was the inspector officer comment on one of the prospective Corp member.

While sitting at that chair waiting for my turn, I saw so many people asked to step aside due to incomplete document, some were out rightly told to go back home.

I was just there hoping I won't be asked to go home too. I didn't have the School ID with me, told you it was collected the moment I received my certificate.

there is an alternate of collecting a letter of identification from the HOD but that involves paying money
I evaded that payment. What will be will be. I hope this decision doesn't cost me?

It got to my turn and I passed the verification process. I wasn't asked for WAEC result and it seems the man understood that I don't have to show my ID when I'm with my certificate.

* A cool air pervaded my skin *

That was wow.

Finally, I'm a corp member.


Let the Camping Begin!

First, I noticed that in the morning, the water I used to sanitize my hand was hot. This indicated that the weather must have been an extremely hot weather for it to make the water to still be hot till morning; this wasn't far from the truth. Before afternoon, I already drank 10 pure water and two bottle water.

Ha! If I continue like this, the little 40k I came with will finish in a flash.

Here I was, thinking I'd last the whole three weeks with that amount

The sun was so hot that I kept drinking water and the funny thing is, I did not ease myself. Maybe it was due to my body composition but NO, after 4 days in camp, I realised it's a general problem. Even BNXN attested that he only eased himself once in three days

Same with other Corp members. Early morning, I had to wake by 3 to fetch water and before 5, the trumpet would be blown in a special sequence insinuating that all corpers should move towards the parade ground.

Some will say they look forward to it but maybe for the first two days, after that, you'd start asking yourself what you are doing here.

The registration process was smooth, saw that the bathroom was okay. Those that reported earlier were given a nice hostel "Harmony" and those that came late like me, I think I reported 2 days after the date I was asked to report

I was taken to a new hostel
Hostel 9.

This hostel was clean and I made mistake thinking it would be ventilated

Day three, I had catarrh and cough. The environment wasn't friendly to me. For someone coming from lagos, this was hell.


The amount of water I drink everyday was above regular. To cap it all, I piss less often

Yikpata
There is the problem of water too.

In the hostel 9, there were over 200 bed stands there. For a bedstead, there are 2 people ( Lower bunk and upper bunk)

That's 400 people. imagine 400 people occupying one room. it was

I got placed in the first platoon and BNXN was given platoon 2. This was an oversight by me. I thought as we enter the ict room, we will be in the same platoon .
The logic was, the number is given in a sequential order.

If 10 people enter at once and the first was given platoon 1, the 10th person will be given platoon 10. if Someone enters again, he/ she will be given platoon 1.

That's just how it is like a circle. A platoon is just like a group. Well, at first it might seem weird but with time, you'd be so balanced in your platoon and make friends.

Intra (within) platoon friendship is very easy . As a platoon 1 member, making friends in platoon 10 will be so hard except you meet on another setting this can be SAED groups, church group, OBS group or different groups in camp.
There's also the part of being a good socialist, no platoon stands in isolation, during parade, platoon 4 will be in between platoon 3 and 5.

Well, that's a hotbed for friendship too



How wrong I was?

My new hostel was shown to me, it was a big hall. I had the opportunity of choosing a bunk so I felt it's better to take the cubicle at the far back... That was something I lived to regret.
I felt the ventilation would be more and just that decision marred my days spent


Day 6, I felt like crying to the camp director

I had catarrh
Cough
Hot body
lack of sleep
Sore throathroar


It was a whole lot with guys there . Though BNXN took the upper bunk, I was also at the upper bunk just that we were not far from each other.

The activities were just there.

Early morning, we have to wake up around 4am, you have to fetch water before they blow the "bigle" that small trumpet.


The soldiers were harsh at first, always shouting at the top of their voice and coordinating us to the parade ground .

There was also the man of war. They are cool but I do enjoy them.

Before I add this, after waking up, we move to the parade ground in troops. we the Christian singles praises while the Muslims leave for the mosques instead of coming to the parade ground

After let's say 30 minutes, they join up in the parade ground. That's where I met Ismaila( Not real name but man is a Muslim, all the way from lag)

He turned out to be a fine friend. His lifestyle matched mine.Same woes and to cap it all, he was also in hostel 9.

You wouldn't know he has money but man gat millions stocked up.I found out the last four days before leaving camp.
Well, after the morning charade, where the camp coordinator makes her speech, and some platoon members give a stunning morning motivation (Don't really listen to it though, have my earpieces stuck in my ears blasting "I'm not racist" by Joyner Lucas and "Deeper than rap" by John hus.
I felt an attraction to those music, they resonates with my soul. Omo Ope by Asa key still does wonder

Loving this

Whenever it's the turn of man o war, it's always frenzy in parade. The OBS squad, this is an acronym for "Orientation Broadcasting service" Can't say if it's service or station, already forgotten. Well, it's a media group
They are in charge of reporting and taking pictures

I actually wanted to join them as I heard that the OBS group is one that has advantage. You get posted to a nice ppa(Place of primary assignment)

However, when I wanted to join, the grouP was disjointed and there's already familiarity among them.It wasn't just for me
WELL, they play hits song during the early morning parade. I really love that part. I get to dance and oh! I had fans
People wanting to watch me dance every morning. I'm not a great dancer but as a Lagosian, to gbese is a must


Camp was becoming fun. Day 4 or so, I heard they need workers in the kitchen
WEll, the demons in me just wanted to be there.

Besides, what's there to get scared of. I thought people that would volunteer would be many but it's just me. Like, I'm the only corper there.
Guess others are still trying to get their square root or something

However, an official I met told me that some has been there in the morning and they'd be back.

I took a breath.

So, that's how I found myself in the kitchen.
When those guys came in the night, I was already familiar with one of the kitchen staff.

Well, he's a guy aNd young. Asked him some funny questions and it was just.... Just awesome


Later in the night when I met others, one said he was the leader. Good for him, for me, it's an anarchy.

I took no invite from anyone.

serving in the kitchen has mad fun.If others are eating two spoon of rice, I get to eat three.

I later came to the illation that I don't have to work as hard as I did at first when I was new in the kitchen

Being in the kitchen had it perks, started gaining friends from my hostel.

Like, it was mad. Knowing I'm the one to serve you, you just have to be nice to me.

The officials didn't let me do as I pleased,I was sanctioned severally for giving some people two meat instead of one

I later understood the game and played it well.

Food do waste some times as some don't like the food being served. Especially when allawee came in, Mehn! no one wanted to come to the kitchen again.

I really served in the kitchen and the bad side to it was that it was more of a personal service that went unnoticed.

I will really miss those women. They always put it to me that I'm very lazy yet, they will ask me to do this and do that


BNXN was there, it was time for socials and his platoon asked him to be the Mr Macho representing the group

He didn't want to. He was shy and also, he wanted to relocate. He was told that if he won, there's nothing like relocation for him.

what a delimma