How to manage your finances in NYSC Camp - For our New Otondos

To the new Otondos, the one overly excited of leaving home and serving their fatherland, and to those ones who are moody already because of their postings, this is for you.

If you’re unhappy with your postings and already wishing and dreaming of the day Baba Buhari would scrap the scheme, you go just wait for long. Better calmly and jejeli accept your fate and move on. Besides the service doesn’t really take that long, before you close and open your eyes, you’re already done with it. Just open your heart and make good use of it. I mean good use; that does not include messing up your life for fun. Do I hear someone say what’s my own? Well, Na una sabi.

NYSC is a compulsory one year service set up by the Nigerian government to involve Nigerian graduates in the development of the country. Most big companies request for the certificate before you can be part of their team, Therefore its better you get through with it once and for all. Find something productive to do within your service year by studying your environment and looking for gaps to fill. Think of impacting the community within the service year which may be part of your achievement; something you’ll look back on and be proud to have achieved such a feat.

If you’re one who have overworked your posting just to favour you and it didn’t. Just accept your fate and move on. Besides you are expected to mix with people of other tribes, social and family backgrounds, to learn the culture of the indigenes in the place you are posted to. You shouldn’t be serving in your state of residence, that’s ojoro. Go out of your comfort zone and serve. Lol (dodges stone).

Having said that, what are those things you should take to the orientation camp? The “orientation" period of approximately three weeks is spent in a military controlled boot "camp" away from family and friends. So you’re going alone to the camp! You don’t need to hold that much except you’re one who spend extravagantly. You can use your money so well and it will last you for the 21 days of your stay in camp. I brought 30k to camp and still had enough change at hand. I won’t disclose the amount, lest you people start your yabbing. Nevertheless, you don’t need flaunt that “dangoteism” in you. Spend wisely!

You should know the food you are getting isn't oriental special but Maami market is your friend. Be reminded that there are no sockets in the room and charging is N50 per device. Better buy power bank from home for that will save you the stress of running to the Maami market to charge phones everytime.  Keep your stuffs well! I repeat Keep your stuffs well from those ones with magnetic fingers. Do not spend money for attraction, don’t be brother or sister 250k and spend only when necessary.

Make sure you don’t forget your Dettol, that’s very important. Except you’re already planning to change your skin colour. You don’t need to carry your whole bag of makeup, for there will be little or no time for that. But if you’re on a mission of finding Mr. Right, you can carry the whole sack of makeup. Na you kuku get your face. But most times you’ll end up being on your natural look.

Don’t forget your mosquito nets, you will need that. Buy from home cos those ‘aunty, help me buy’ can double the price for you. Have in mind that you’ll also be buying buckets except you have also decided not to bath for the whole three weeks.  The bigger plastic buckets cost about N300, you’ll need two.

I’ll also advise that you buy the white rubber tennis they sell in camp, it can withstand the dirt and easier to wash. You don’t need to double up your muscles in washing the tennis like you would on a normal white tennis. 

You may not like the kitchen food, so hold money, for you will be spending at the Maami market. A plate of food costs N250; remember you’ll be buying bottle water, pure water dey too. Maami get everything so far you have your money and if you’re a fine babe, (I mean fine o, as in real fine babe), don’t worry, the lord has answered your prayers. For they will buy you food on a daily/weekly basis, but that is not a reason for you to be chopping up and down, you may take for today and postpone it to the next 3days. You move your admirers to the friendzone but if your Mr. Right is among them goodluck.

Five white shorts and shirt is okay. If you cannot wash as a natural ajeboti or as an ajeboti by force, Mammi has everything including dry cleaners. If you also cannot fetch water there are ‘aunty/uncle let me help you’, just be ready to pay them. They charge a minimum of N30 depending on the size of your bucket. If you have hand to wash your dirty clothes, hold pegs please.

Other items you’ll need are; washing soap, bathing soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, Sanitary pad, beverages, etc….. abeg check your call up letter for more.

On a bright note, enjoy your orientation camp, participate in one or two activities of your choice.  There were rumours during my time that one will be posted to the state city for participation in some of these activities but that didn’t work during my own time. Nevertheless, just participate and enjoy yourself.  You can work as part of the medical team if you study medicine or any science related courses or at the OBS (Orientation Broadcasting service) if you have a good presentation skills. There will be a lot of competitions in camp, make sure you participate in one or two, make friends and act responsibly. If you’re married, remember your spouse at home, please don’t give yourself a bad name. For Mr and Mrs singles, act responsibly, and remember the sons and daughters of whom you are. I wish you well, enjoy camp and be good.

I’ve tried.  I've written more than enough; So that’s all for now.

Eshey! 

Watch out for my write-up on how to make good use of your service year. If you have any advice for our new otondos, you can write in the comment box. Kindly share this post too.