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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Pls I went to collect my statement of result and it bears olabinjo Iyanuoluwa instead of olabinjo Iyanuoluwa Ayooluwa. Pls can I be registered in camp. The three names are on my nysc.dashboard and school ID card
Yes but you have to go and obtain affidavit to president in the camp
You can still chat me on WhatsApp for more information like direct posting and relocation and even age reduction etc
07084430116
Pls is tinting of hair allowed in camp….n birth cartificate n state of origin I dont have that now… should I collect it…n my waec original result
Sir, please I want to ask I’m married n I v affidavit still waiting for newspaper publishing,
On my dashboard I saw change of name, do I v to click on it or I should not?
Don’t click it
Please my school document carry Samuel Matthew but my bvn carries Samuel Matthew Adegboyega. I did affidavit and newspaper publishing to indicate am now using three names.. Am i good to go?
Yes, you are good to go. Apply for change of name through your dashboard.
Our names are yet to appear on the Senate list.So should we start checking out name from 13for stream 2
Yes, it will be ready by then
Please clear me on this issue of 2020 batch A having stream 1/2. I am really worried, my school is yet to upload our list.i want to know if there is 2 streams will the portal reopen for fresh Registration for the stream 2 batch A cos batch B is still far off and I don’t want to wait that long
do i need to go to bank to get my bvn details
CEO I am married and while filling my online registration I did not find the state were I was supposed to serve that is Lagos State so I chose 4 other state that is available are they still going to post me were I requested during my manual registration in school please is confusing I need help am I going to be redeploy any were they post me for
Since you are married, they will post you where your husband live regardless of the States you selected
Are we to come with the BVN print out or just write it on a sheet of paper
Write it on a piece of paper
My documents bears Emem John Udoh while my BVN bears Emem Udoh John pls will it affect me?
It won’t affect, but you can apply rearrangement of name on your dashboard.
The name on your results is different from your bank names like no middle name is it a problem
Pls my bank BVN details carry only two names BT my nysc details carry three names pls what can I do?
Can we carry food like garri along to the camp?
Hello CEO, my bvn details carry three names (Smah Penuel Zechariah) while my school details is (Smah Bazon-Zechariah Penuel).
Pls sir would there be any problem during my bank account opening at the camp????
Thanks!
If for example the bvn name is Francis omole and your documents bears Francis omole lucky will there be a problem with that?
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?
No, however, you can rearrange it during online registration
Sir, has the date been fix for batch A registration i had people says 20/02/2020, is it true, kindly response
It is 20th for now
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?
Yes, they will
Is it compulsory to open a new bank account
Yes, you must open it inside NYSC orientation camp
my Bvn carried only 2 names why my nysc carried 3 names, pls what should I do
Update your BVN to carry 3 names
Thanks for sharing this, it really taught me.
What if you are unable to update your bvn early enough, what happens then?
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?
Try to update your bvn
The date of birth on my bvn is different from my nysc registeration hope it will not affect
No, it won’t
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?
Go and update your BVN
Hi, pls if one go to camp a day before the official date. Where will you sleep
NYSC will give you where to sleep
What if the age on your bvn is different from the age u using as ur nysc age will it affect anything
It will not affect you
Please ooo my name on Bvn is Fabode Abimbola Funmilayo but on document is Fabode Abimbola Abigael
Go and update your BVN
My bvn name is ADEBISI Tinuade Mary
But my documents are ADEBISI Mary Tinuade
Pls hope it won’t affect me
No problem
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?
Go and update your BVN
Please is it compulsory I open an account at the orientation camp
Yes, you must open NYSC allawee account
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.
It will last for for at least one week and at most two weeks
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?
What group can one join in the camp to aid a paying or better ppa
OBS, Red cross, etc
Pls,l will be 30yrs by next year and I want to serve by next year too.pls,will my age affaect me?
You can only serve if you graduated before 30 years.
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.
Why not! You will be allowed.
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?
It won’t affect you