Unizik graduate Dr Amaka Ezeofor brings you her NYSC throwback story between Bauchi and Ondo states but from Anambra state

 

www.odogwublog.com reports that this Medical Graduate from Nnamdi Azikikwe University Teaching Hospital

(NAUTH), Dr Amaka Ezeofor from Oko community in Orumba North local government area, Anambra state was thrown between Northern Nigeria and South West and nearly throw in the towel from serving her father land but today she has reasons to praise God and NYSC for the opportunity. Read her NYSC throwback story.                       

It was indeed like a death sentence, like the world suddenly came to a halt. I felt very bewildered as the secretary mentioned the state while handing me my NYSC posting letter on that fateful day at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK) Awka, Anambra state.

 But lying down in my room today, reminiscing about my service year, I beam robustly with smiles. Indeed I have come to believe that there are two sides to almost everything, life is full of surprises, yet unfolding.

Then, I bitterly went home and informed my family members. I equally contacted some of my friends and colleagues via phone calls. No one concealed his or her utmost astonishment and dismay regarding the news I had broken. Many advised me against honouring the posting due to the obvious security challenges in the North.

My parents were initially apprehensive but later became calm after consulting some of their friends. I was encouraged to go ahead without fear that I would relocate after the three weeks of camping. Learning about my friends who were equally posted to the same state gave me a boost of hope and confidence.

Even though I wasn’t completely fear-free, it was very relieving to know that I had some friends with whom to embark on the unsavoury journey…Praise the Lord! The fourteen hours journey from Onitsha to Bauchi state happened to be the longest journey I had embarked on having been in the southeastern part of the country almost my entire life.

I was filled with mixed feelings as the journey began, excited about going to the North for the first time but at the same time jittery due to the Boko Haram menace rampaging the North. I wondered if I would make it back home alive, well , I had to remain optimistic as that was the only way forward at that point.

Coincidentally, I met quite a number of corps members at the park so we eventually travelled as a group , that of course was very comforting. We took off at 2pm and got to Bauchi at 4am the following morning. The journey was smooth aside the frequent Police/Army checks which unexpectedly I was pleased with, they made me feel protected. While we waited at the park in Bauchi for daybreak, some southerners residing in Bauchi whom we journeyed with used the opportunity to give us some words of wisdom. We were advised never to leave the camp since we were not in tune with the dictates of the area. They equally gave us some security tips. Listening to them narrate some of their experiences brought back the palpitations I had been struggling to keep in check.

Finally, at daybreak, the southern ‘elders’ arranged a bus that took us all to the camp, surprisingly to Kangere camp and not Wailo camp as written in our posting letters. We marvelled at the sudden change of destination, however, we felt it could be a part of the security strategies by NYSC and the Government. On our arrival, we were welcomed at the gate by the Camp Director, Mr Paul Akpovi after being searched by some uniformed security men. The Camp Director briefly highlighted the rules and regulations of the camp and how to go about our registration. Both Yobe (where I belonged) and Bauchi corps members stayed together at Kangere camp, Bauchi state. I eventually got registered after a long waiting period at the queue.

Life in camp was initially uninteresting, worsened by the unfriendly weather but I quickly became acquainted with the routine. I enjoyed the early morning drills as that helped me cope with the cold weather experienced in the mornings. Evening games were more preferable to afternoon games because the weather was usually more conducive. Camp became fun and ‘hot’ towards the middle of the second week as there were a lot of entertaining activities in the evenings by the platoons in addition to the usual parade, morning drill and games. Since most of my medical colleagues and friends preferred to watch over the patients at the clinic ,it wasn’t difficult for me to relinquish my duties to them when necessary so as to participate in camp activities-special Man’o’War squad, my platoon stage presentations in addition to the others already mentioned.

As a member of the special Man’o’War’ squad, we entertained august visitors on special occasions like the Swearing-In day and the day we were visited by the NYSC Director- General, Brig.Gen. Johnson Olawumi.

 It felt really awesome performing on the stage with my platoon members and equally participating in the parade. Unfortunately, I pulled out of the parade towards the end as I badly reacted to the dusts usually raised during the march past. I guess I was high-spirited in the camp hence my determination to go all the way. Camp life was not entirely rosy , the meals served us were unappealing and unpalatable, Mama Amaka’s shop at the Mami market became my saving grace, not without a price though. The long lectures at the hall were nothing to write home about, one could barely concentrate because of the poor state of the hall. By and large, the orientation camp remains my best period in NYSC.

Yobe corps members (were I belonged) were eventually offered automatic redeployment/relocation to other safer states as Yobe state was already under emergency rule as at then. Sadly, it was time to bid one another goodbye which left some of us in tears. I knew I would surely miss some friends I made there especially the entire medical team because we were like a family, well what do I say? Friends meet to part and vice versa. We undoubtedly made beautiful memories together. It is said that opportunity comes but once so I maximally utilized mine by making a visit to Yankari Games Reserve with two of my friends before leaving Bauchi State. Some of my friends felt the idea of going to Yankari Games Reserve was very risky and a bit unreasonable considering the insecurity issues and the fact that we didn’t understand the local language but the three of us were very willing to take the chance. Our trip was smooth, I have no regrets going there.

Relocation found me at Ondo State located at the south western part of the country, another journey of a thousand miles. I however made a trip back home in Anambra state for a short break before setting out for Ondo state. Through the assistance of a corper friend I met in camp, I was linked with a family in Akure where I was sheltered while I went through the rigours of relocation and getting a PPA(Place of Primary Assignment). This new family of mine gave me the kind of reception and treatment that I would live to remember. They were without exaggeration far too kind to a supposed stranger. They were nothing short of a family to me and indeed my NYSC story would remain incomplete and very erroneous if I failed to dedicate  some lines to them. I remain ever grateful for their unreserved love and hospitality to me.  Getting a PPA turned out to be a thorn in my flesh as the institution I was posted couldn’t accept me due to some administrative problems they were experiencing.

After waiting to no avail, still in my Akure home for close to a month, I was compelled to check elsewhere for PPA. Eventually, I was reposted to a Government hospital in another town where I was accepted and was to commence work in earnest. Then came another thorn in my flesh; searching for accommodation. I was alone in this search as the other corps members in the town had since settled down before my arrival, this worsened my plight. I initially put up with a fellow female corper who was also working at my PPA while vigorously searching for an accommodation. I later succeeded in getting a place pretty close to the hospital and moved in. This period remains my worst time during NYSC as I never envisaged that getting a PPA would take me such a while and that accommodation would be part of my struggle. I was indeed caught unawares.

The towns people including those I met at my workplace were quite nice and very sociable. They made me feel at home. With time, I became less moody and more friendly as I gradually let go of the stress I went through. More so, the incessant strike by the health workers, NMA, then JOHESU provided me with enough time to bounce back, no thanks to them though, our population was unceremoniously depleted on those two occasions. Having settled down and resumed duties at my PPA, I started looking forward to the glorious POP day (my passing out…‘passing-out parade’),hence my countdown began. I was in a hurry to regain my freedom from NYSC having missed my local delicacies for so long and for some other reasons. Whatever the reasons were, I just needed to get done with NYSC.I had earlier hoped that our POP would be in mid-February but to my utmost disappointment, the date was postponed to 2nd March to enable my batch(Batch A Corps members) participate in the elections.

This news didn’t go down well with me at all, it all succeeded in dousing my enthusiasm. However, as a patriotic servant of my dear country, I had to take it in good faith. Surprisingly the date of the election was eventually postponed, we were to pass out of NYSC in Feb afterall! I chanted praises for our Director­-General for this welcome decision, my joy was very visible and equally palpable. Finally came 19th Feb, the long-awaited day. It was a quiet day. We were simply issued our certificates at the Local Government NYSC office. I silently wished there were more to that because it called for a very robust celebration..well, that would be a talk for another day. Honestly, I was tempted at some point to quit NYSC and go back home but today, I thank God that I persevered because I feel like a conqueror or am I not?

 I commend the founders and the leadership of NYSC because it was obviously born out of beautiful intentions. I now feel like a true Nigerian having been thrown to the core North and back to the southwest in the course of my NYSC. I however wish that the welfare of the corps members be improved upon with particular regard to good accommodation and allowances. I suggest that corps members shouldn’t be posted to institutions that do not have good accommodations for them.

It is not too much to sacrifice a year of one’s life showing patriotism for one’s country, however the least the country could do is provide one with adequate accommodation, security and fairly good allowances to enable the patriotic servant take good care of him/herself. For the experiences gathered and the better Nigerian I have become, I remain grateful to NYSC, thank you NYSC!

Long live NYSC! Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria!                                                                       

Ex-corper ([email protected])

2014/2015 Batch A