The write-up below was originally written this day, 3 years ago.
This morning, I decided to go find my old Facebook account (that was hacked and I am yet to gain access to it again. If you know how I can get it back, Biko help o). The pictures and the posts on that account bring back a lot of memories, especially those of NYSC.
I have always been a busy person, like even if I don’t have work to do, I intentionally create work for myself just so I not to be idle. I really think the time I did the most work ever was during NYSC. I was posted to a private secondary school where I was saddled with the responsibilities of teaching basic science and Agriculture to about 8 classes this leaves me a 45mins break in the space of 8 am – 2 pm, Mondays – Thursdays. Fridays were for CDS.
I also made a decision to do special NYSC projects after I saw a genuine need, the project was to refurbish a government school’s computer room, donate computers to them, and train the students on how to use the computer. I will say more about this some other time. I was also lucky to be selected as the ICT SAED trainer for Ogun state for all corps members even as a corps member myself, this was like a first-ever in the state.
To further complicate things, NCCF chose me as the “Papa” for my district. This meant that I didn’t only have to act as the pastor to the NCCF body but as a “father figure” to many. That role wasn’t beans at all. I guess I will also write about this later. To cap it all, I had my business known as Euidem Concepts at that time also running and when I saw a market for gadgets, I started the business of selling gadgets sourced from Computer Village and China to other corps members.
To cut this long story short, I pulled all these in and thrived, smashed records in every one of the things I listed up there, every single one of them; still as a corps member. I am not able to understand corps members nowadays when there are more opportunities around. They waste away the one-year period and return to ground zero after the program. It’s a sad reality we need to begin to address more often.
I know people whose lives changed for the better forever during NYSC, I know people who began to smash huge records while serving, and several others who didn’t need to go look for jobs after NYSC. I mean, how do you leave your village, come to Lagos for NYSC, and begin to act like a Lagos big boy/girl? Our youth need to wake up.
If you know anyone currently serving or those who will start soon, please share this post with them. Maybe it will help them realign a bit. I will try to write more about my experience and exploits during that time to encourage more young people.
Below is a picture of me receiving the state honors award from the representative of the state governor for being the second-best corps member in the state. The award came with a cash gift and a job offer but you know now, man picked the money on the offer and ran.