NYSC
First Day Experience in NYSC Camp – what to expect
It is a well known fact that the key to a wonderful NYSC camp experience is adequate preparation. Not knowing exactly what to prepare for could ruin your camp experience. In this post, I will show you what your first-day experience in NYSC camp will be like and what to expect.
First, please get used to being called ‘otondo’. If anyone calls you ‘otondo’, answer the person because that will be your new name. To know the meaning of otondo it is recommended you read meaning of otondo in NYSC camp.
For now, let’s delve into the main topic, “first-day experience in NYSC camp, and what to expect”. To make camp life easier and smoother for you, I took the time to write this piece. We shall begin by looking at the 4 cardinal points of NYSC:
The Four (4) Cardinal Points of NYSC
1. The Orientation Camp Exercise
2. The Place of Primary Assignment (PPA)
3. The Community Development Service (CDS)
4. The Passing Out Parade (PPA)
These are the four (4) cardinal points of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Every Corps member must pass through these points before being awarded the NYSC Discharge Certificate.
However, our topic revolves around the first cardinal point, which is the NYSC orientation camp. Let’s go there!
Your journey to the NYSC orientation camp starts after receiving your NYSC Call-up letter. In your call-up letter, the state you are posted, orientation camp address, date to report to camp, and other important information will be stated.
You’ll spend 21 days in the NYSC camp. After the 21 days in camp, you will be posted to a Place of Primary Assignment (2nd cardinal point).
Best Time to Report to Camp
Some people believe that it is better to report to camp on the 2nd or 3rd day after the camp official opening date with the view that it will reduce stress. I don’t buy the idea at all.
Reporting late could deprive you of many opportunities and could cause emotional trauma. Moreover, camp life is about the survival of the fittest. Also, there used to be good reservations for early birds.
Speaking from my own camp experience, I arrived at camp a day before the camp was officially opened. It helped me secure a good hostel, bunk, and mattress.
The following day, which is the official opening day, I woke up early, dressed up, and went straight to the physical verification and registration point. My registrations were smooth and seamless because I prepared for it.
My advice is for you to go to camp a day before the official camp opening date, especially if you are posted to a far place.
NYSC Camp experiences and what to expect
Here comes our main topic. To make it easier and simple, I will break it into parts.
PART ONE – Arriving At the NYSC Camp
Preliminary verification starts right at the NYSC entrance gate. Your NYSC Call-up letter will serve as your ‘gate entry pass’. After checking your call-up letter, you will be directed to a police post where they will check your luggage. After they clear you at the gate, they will give you a book to write down your name and a unique number.
The number is very important, as that would be used for subsequent verification. Note: Always have your documents ready and handy at every registration point to avoid embarrassment.
PART TWO – Accommodation Stand
After being cleared and given a tag number, proceed to a point where you would be given a hostel and bed space. At the accommodation stand, provide the number you collected at the entrance gate.
A book will be given to you to write your name. The serial number corresponding to your name is your bunk number; copy it out.
At this point, you would be directed to a room to pick up a mattress. After picking up a mattress, take the mattress to the corresponding bunk. If you fight another person over a bunk, the book you wrote your name in at the accommodation stand will be used to determine the real owner of the bunk.
Note: Do not expect comfort in the NYSC camp. Almost all the available mattresses are too dirty, flat, and some are even bedbug-infested. Some mattresses in the NYSC camp are up to 30 years old, much older than you, can you imagine!
PART THREE – Physical Registration
After getting accommodation, the next thing is registration and documentation. Make sure that all the documents needed in camp are intact to avoid embarrassment. The officials will check the original of your Statement of results and other required documents.
After registration, a meal ticket will be given to you. Make sure you don’t lose your meal ticket because there is no replacement. NYSC will feed you three times per day; morning, afternoon, night.
Also, a very big tag number that will serve as your identity through your stay in camp will be given to you. They will make it look like an ID card. You are mandated to always wear the tag around your neck every time, even while sleeping.
The last digit on the tag indicates your platoon. i.e. 3045, 0569, 6340, etc., indicates platoon 5, platoon 9, and platoon 10, respectively. If the last digit is “0”, it’s platoon 10.
PART FOUR – Kit Collection and Platoon Registration
After registration, they will assign a platoon for you (tag number indicates your platoon as explained above). Use the last digit of your tag to identify your platoon. So, after knowing your platoon, head straight to your platoon stand for platoon registration and collection of your kits.
This can be the most annoying stage, as you are likely to be given oversized items. The shoes, khaki, etc., can be bigger or smaller than you. But if you register on time, you will have more chances of getting your size. I guess that is one of the advantages of coming to camp early.
PART FIVE – Bank Account Opening
Every Corps member must open a new bank account in the NYSC orientation camp for the payment of NYSC allowance. So, make sure you go to camp with your BVN because it’s required.
Also, your name on BVN should correspond to your name on your NYSC documents. After opening an account, put on your NYSC kit immediately and run to the parade ground.
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Decent
February 20, 2020 at 00:01
If for example the bvn name is Francis omole and your documents bears Francis omole lucky will there be a problem with that?
Doris
February 19, 2020 at 15:44
Please if your statement of results names are written in this order for example: Okoh Otu Emmanuel and your name on senate list carries Okoh Emmanuel Otu is it an issue?
Humphery
February 19, 2020 at 20:27
No, however, you can rearrange it during online registration
stephen
February 19, 2020 at 15:29
Sir, has the date been fix for batch A registration i had people says 20/02/2020, is it true, kindly response
Humphery
February 19, 2020 at 20:27
It is 20th for now
Vivian
February 18, 2020 at 14:51
If u go there a day before the official camp opening date will they allow u in n also will they allow u to choose any accommodation of ur choice?
Humphery
February 18, 2020 at 18:51
Yes, they will
Alli damilola
February 17, 2020 at 10:42
Is it compulsory to open a new bank account
Humphery
February 17, 2020 at 12:07
Yes, you must open it inside NYSC orientation camp
dorathy Akwu
November 29, 2019 at 20:17
my Bvn carried only 2 names why my nysc carried 3 names, pls what should I do
Humphery
December 1, 2019 at 17:49
Update your BVN to carry 3 names
Onwuneme Nebeolisa Ernest
November 28, 2019 at 21:48
Thanks for sharing this, it really taught me.
Emesiri
November 1, 2019 at 22:37
What if you are unable to update your bvn early enough, what happens then?
omotilewa
November 1, 2019 at 08:13
name on my document omotilewa oluwafemi isaiah, but the name on my bvn is omotilewa femi isaiah., that’s the name i use to open acct….hope am free?
Humphery
November 1, 2019 at 20:07
Try to update your bvn
Ajanaku Taiwo
November 1, 2019 at 07:43
The date of birth on my bvn is different from my nysc registeration hope it will not affect
Humphery
November 1, 2019 at 20:11
No, it won’t
Folashade
October 28, 2019 at 21:50
fagbemi folashade oluwabukola is the name have being using for all my documents including bvn but fagbemi folashade Elizabeth is the name on my hnd documents, though all this names are on my birth certificate. Hope it wount affect me?
Humphery
October 29, 2019 at 19:14
Go and update your BVN
Tunjiy
October 27, 2019 at 22:54
Hi, pls if one go to camp a day before the official date. Where will you sleep
Humphery
October 28, 2019 at 06:21
NYSC will give you where to sleep
Perry
October 27, 2019 at 19:37
What if the age on your bvn is different from the age u using as ur nysc age will it affect anything
Humphery
October 28, 2019 at 06:39
It will not affect you
Fabode Abimbola
October 28, 2019 at 15:05
Please ooo my name on Bvn is Fabode Abimbola Funmilayo but on document is Fabode Abimbola Abigael
Humphery
October 29, 2019 at 19:39
Go and update your BVN
Tinuade
October 22, 2019 at 17:49
My bvn name is ADEBISI Tinuade Mary
But my documents are ADEBISI Mary Tinuade
Pls hope it won’t affect me
Humphery
October 22, 2019 at 19:02
No problem
Aselebe Elizabeth tope
October 19, 2019 at 18:06
The name on my bvn says Aselebe Elizabeth Temitope and my documents bear Aselebe Elizabeth Tope.hope it won’t affect my account opening at camp?
Humphery
October 19, 2019 at 18:52
Go and update your BVN
Eniola
October 18, 2019 at 09:41
Please is it compulsory I open an account at the orientation camp
Humphery
October 18, 2019 at 20:53
Yes, you must open NYSC allawee account
amaka
October 6, 2019 at 13:00
please, I am married and a nursing mother. so I would like to know if all these registrations can end in one day or how long can it take.
Humphery
October 6, 2019 at 20:03
It will last for for at least one week and at most two weeks
Ismail Aliyy
September 5, 2019 at 00:04
Thank you sir
my question is that, the state I used In my jamb is different with the one I used in school. If I want to do nysc registration now which one am I going to use
2. my month of birth is not corresponding too
what will I do sir?
Vivian
August 18, 2019 at 23:33
What group can one join in the camp to aid a paying or better ppa
Humphery
August 20, 2019 at 09:19
OBS, Red cross, etc
Ebere
October 18, 2019 at 17:30
Pls,l will be 30yrs by next year and I want to serve by next year too.pls,will my age affaect me?
Humphery
October 18, 2019 at 20:47
You can only serve if you graduated before 30 years.
oluwaleye oluwaseyi
August 17, 2019 at 17:59
Hi, thanks for d piece of advice. Will I be allowed to stay in d camp if I go a day to the official opening of camp and also on d official opening will I have to carry my belongings to d gate for checking.
Humphery
August 17, 2019 at 20:23
Why not! You will be allowed.
Eddy
August 18, 2019 at 18:12
Thanks for the piece of information highly appreciated.
Though a final year student
But please this has been bordering me; on my jamb admission letter after regularisation, its showing that I deed matriculation 2015 instead of 2014 would that affect me during registration/documentation?
Humphery
August 20, 2019 at 09:20
It won’t affect you