PREPARING FOR NYSC CAMP

Congratulations to all Prospective Corp Members getting prepared to serve the Nation soon. I just hope this post helps.

 

LIST OF THINGS I CARRIED TO CAMP

16 Photocopies of Statement of Result (Original and Photocopies)
16 Photocopies of School ID Card (Original and Photocopies)
24 copies of passport photo (or even more, it is more costly if you take it on camp)
Original & 16 Photocopies of Call-up Letter (The original copy will be taken and not returned to you)
10 plain sheets of paper (I carried, just in case)
A Pen (This should not miss from your bag, lots of signing and writing)
Stapler with your own pins (To staple one pin cost N10 in camp)
Glue and Tipex (You may need to erase anything while filling the loads of forms at camp)

N/B: The 16 copies were not collected in my camp, but my friends in some other camps say they were collected.

OTHER ITEMS:
A Cardigan (optional)
4 Round-necked white T-Shirts; This is what you will wear throughout your stay in
camp, a friend of mine brought 21 shirts, don’t judge her please…lol. You will also be given 2 white T-shirts at camp.

4 pairs of plain white Shorts; the two shorts NYSC gave me looked like skirts…

A Pair Of Plain White Sneakers; even though NYSC will give you one….hmmm! Mine were oversized and it survived the camp but not outside it.

2 pairs of white socks with the green-white-green stripes at the top (NYSC will give you two pairs)

A pair of slippers

Towel (This is advisable to bring from home. Maybe a small one. The one at Maami market may be second hand)

2 Bed-Sheets and Pillow Cases; My camp did not provide pillows, you can bring yours from home or manage.

Handkerchief and small towels (There will be lots of sweating)

Pyjamas or night gown.

Underwears (Bring just enough, just incase some are stolen, you can never tell)

Toileteries; Dettol (to disinfect your water), Detergent (You may not need to bring this from home as you can buy from Maami market), toilet paper, bathing soaps, sanitary pad etc.

Buckets and soap dish (you can get this at maami market. In my camp, they were sold at the gate)

You can take a novel or game gadgets for those boring days.

Pocket Money (About 15,000 Naira would be enough if you spend modestly. You will receive your bicycle allowance on camp and your first allawee will be paid too but towarda the end of camp)

Waist bag (This is very essential, as your money will have to be in it. Get a black colour, preferrably)

Torchlight and Batteries (You will need this especially if electricity goes out...no need for rechargeable because you will always have to pay to charge it, except for camps that have sockets in the hostels)

ATM card (just incase you run out of cash and have to obtain permission to go get more)

Painkillers, Malaria Medicine, Allergy Medicine, etc. (All kinds of medicine necessary to you, the first one week will be very stressful. Do not bank on the camp clinic, you may be disappointed)

Padlocks (For your boxes, suitcases, etc)

Sun Glasses (optional)

MOSQUITO NET (this is optional too. I went with one but had no place to hang it)

Camera; there will be lots and lots of pictures to take…the photographers on camp will also take photographs, I budgeted N3,000 for pictures and then I paid for a camp video N1,000.

Food flask (this may be optional. I carried one to camp but only ate twice with it in the kitchen. I was a maami fan. :-) )

Provisions (This is optional and could be bought at camp. But I took some breakfast cereals and beverages from home)

Clothes for Sunday services. There will be three Sunday services, and in my camp, mufti was allowed till 1pm on Sundays.

THINGS U DON’T NEED
Don't pack loads of unnecessary stuff. That was one advice from my Dad I ignored, and I ended up almost breaking my neck for carrying my box on my head to do squats at the camp gate.

Don’t take materials like pressing iron, knife, fork, tin cutter to the camp. They will be seized at the camp gate, for security reasons.

There may be little or no need for make-up kit. In my camp, you dare not be caught with make-up on your face by a soldier. Mind the hair you do to the camp, you will always have to tie it up, it must not pour on your back.

HOW THE PROCESS WORKED:

The first registration point, my bags were checked for contraband items, then the soldiers made me carry my box on my head and run to the next registration point. There, I got a tag number for my bed space, I got to the hostel, located my bed space and left to the next registration point to declare my call up letter. After that, I went for capturing, my picture was taken and my NYSC State Code number was written on a sheet of paper and given to me. I used that to get my tag number in which the last number indicated my platoon (e.g. if you are 0128, you are in platoon 8). I proceeded to my platoon stand and got my kit (NYSC crested vest, khaki trousers and jacket, 2 white T-shirts, 2 pairs of white socks, 2 white shorts, 1 face cap, 1 belt, 1 pair plain white canvas and 1 pair of jungle boots). Please stand there and make sure they are all your sizes, if not, find someone to exchange immediately or proceed to maami market for shaping or adding J (for the khaki trousers). This is just the basics, there will be lots of registrations on consequent days.

There will be lots of fun, Miss NYSC, Miss Pretty face (for the guys), Mr. Macho, Best Dancer, Cultural Dances, Talent shows, Comedy shows and lots of competitions. There will be Parades, Endurance Trek, Skills Acquisitions, Lectures by different organisations, Man O’ War Activities etc.

Check out this DOCUMENTARY of mine.

 

Y. O. S. O. (You Only Serve Once), so make the most of it.

I wish you all the best as you brace up yourself to donate one year of your life to serve our beloved Country. May God be with you. Amen.