Another story time!
Last week I shared my experience about the NYSC orientation camp and I was really excited about the feedback I got.

Today marks the end on this series and I egarly look forward to your contributions.
Come along let me, as I take you through the activities proper on camp.

There were several interesting activities on camp and the best was at the kitchen. Please ignore my gestures but that is just truth. I had the best Camp Director and state coordinator.

A typical day commences with morning meditation by 5:00 A.M. To me, this was the best moment on camp with the presence of the spontaneous, eloquent and stylish Dan talker. We had songs of worship alongside praise to open up the day. Thereafter, we listen to the meditation of the day from each platoon as values have been distributed to each platoon to write on and live by on camp.


We have values like service, humility, loyalty, discipline, humility, character, team work, dedication, and others that make up ten. Right there on the parade ground, we witness the rising of the giant of Africa as she is woken up by the bugle at 6:00A.M sharp every day. The drills kick in immediately with light exercise, marching (left, right, at ease and attention), band rehearsals and others.

Well, at this point you may be thinking that is all there is to the camp and I say no it is just the tip of the ice berg. Just when you think you have seen it all, here comes inter platoon competition where platoons compete for the title of being best or the first from the rear. Major competitions were football (male), volleyball (female), dance, cooking, drills (marching), Miss NYSC, Mr Macho, Big Bold and Beautiful (BBB) and others.


I won’t want to go into details on the competitions so you don’t get bored. For the sake of this experience, there is this one popular mustering point called ‘Maami market’ (smiles)…I nick named it ‘Buy me’. It has just the right kind of attraction for any one. It is a place where food (varieties) is sold, drinks (soft and hard), and fruits, wears e.t.c. You can choose to spend your bicycle, transport, and monthly allowance (23,200 in all) within a glance there and then trek home if you have no savings. Beware of evening Maami market strolling and those photographers. You get your first allowance (alawee) as bicycle and transport allowance (1,400 and 1,800) at the end of your first week on camp. Your first allowance is given the last week of camp which is 19,800 as at 2018.


Lastly before I drop the pen, take all necessary items you need but DO NOT BUY EXPENSIVE STUFF please. If you go with anything expensive and you look for it back home do not say I didn’t mention it here.

Some useful tips
1. Try to maintain serenity with the use of the rest room and other facilities made available.

2. Everybody will not think like you, just try to make a difference.
You will meet the good, bad and ugly make your choice wisely.

3. Get involved in the activities.
Beware of SAED O!

4. Be your own security.

5. Have fun and do not miss my kind of kitchen for anything (save cost) if you love awuf like me.
Smiles…

Thank you (OBRIGADO, MERCI, ARIGATÔ…)

Written by: Bobmanuel Ehijale

Alright guys, we are here with another mind thrilling series on National Youth Service (NYSC) for prospective and serving Corps member and our dear audience/readers.

If you are a Nigerian graduate, and you are yet to serve, or you are serving or you have served your Fathers’ land (Nigeria), you will have one thing or the other to put you in remembrance or in anticipation as I take you through the life experience of a typical Corp member  at the National orientation camp.

The National youth Service is divided into four cardinal segments;
1. The orientation camp.
2. The place of primary assignment.
3. The secondary assignment known as Community Development Service (CDS).
4. The rounding up known as passing out parade (POP).

I had a three weeks (21 days) life changing experience at Nonwa Gbam Tai orientation camp, Rivers state, Nigeria.

Before I dive into the whole experience which you  have so much anticipated, I will love to drop this very heart throbbing and inspiring National Anthem of the National Youth Service Scheme here.

Youths obey the clarion call
Let us lift our Nation high
Under the sun or in the rain
With dedication and selflessness
Nigeria is ours
Nigeria we serve.

This is one striking anthem that melts the fat of mission in my body. It is every patriots dream and wish to see her nation developed in every respect.

Okay, I won’t bore you with much talk anymore. We are plunging into the ocean of life at camp right away.

You know what happens to your whole being when you have so much anticipated  an experience right? It was the same feeling I had and same with most persons I interacted with on camp. One sure testimony of many about camp, was that “camp was fun!”.


Now do not get it twisted when I say fun (smiles). There are lots of ways to have  fun out there in the world but this one here, is sure a regimented fun. First day on camp looked weird for me because I was not used to seeing both male and female in the same outfit. As it were, we are mandated to change into our white shorts and white shirts as you secure an accommodation. White is the official wear on camp that sponsored the popular name ‘WHITE FOWLS or OTONDO’ on camp. There are other names I got familiar with during drills. Lest I forget, I used the term regimented to represent a controlled lifestyle and that was what was what camp represented. They exerted the control in our daily routine. We were  told when to wake up (Bugle by 5:00 A.M), when to eat, when to sleep (10:00 P.M) and lots more.


In between the time for sleeping and waking up holds several activities you won’t want to miss especially for the sake some special uncles and Aunts (Soldiers, police and Man ‘O’ war) we had on camp. They were however very friendly to Corp members.

Few days into the camping experience, platoon officers identidied with each platoon and platoon leaders elected among Corp members. A platoon is a subdivision of Corp members for accountability, control and direction sake. Each camp has ten (10) platoons with a platoon officer (civilian), platoon commander (soldier) and other officials to oversee its affairs. It may interest you to know that I served as one of the platoon leaders.


This was just an informative piece, watch out for the next mind blowing series of my experience on camp.

Written by: Bobmanuel

She was worried and wondered if her dreams of becoming the world's most renowned artist would ever become a reality. Since she was right handed and she had lost her right hand, it felt like her world had turned upside-down. She was so discouraged, unproductive and was filled with regrets, wishing she could turn back the hands of time.

One fateful evening, she was watching a TEDx program and the speaker was Amy Purdy. Shannon was just watching the program which she took it with a grain of salt not until Army shared her life experience about how she became the world’s best skater without having legs.

Shannon found this really comforting and challenging. She decided to hire a physiotherapist to help her with the use of her left and also her artificial hands. As time went on she became really good with both hands, she could draw and paint again. She wanted the world to learn from her story, so she came up with a very fantastic and very creative painting depicting the dangers of wrong association. This particular art work sold her out and qualified her for a particular competition she signed up for. She eventually was announced as the winner artist.

She was given a medal award, a large sum of money and scholarship to further her education. This brought her fame especially in the world of art and wealth. She started a foundation for drug addicts to help them regain and realise their true personality. “Indeed I regret my mistakes but I am thankful to God I never dwelt in the past”. Said Shannon.

This brings us to the end of mended. Hope you had a great time with the episodes. To you who have made one mistake or the other, it's never too late to to start again. The worst that can happen to a man is living in the past.
Your past doesn't determine your future but your present does.

I hope you had a great time with mended. Remember don't forget to drop a comment.

Since the death of her dad, Shannon lost her jovial attitude and she always looked moody. Stanley was a new student in class,  he noticed her moody attitude and decided to always come around her. It was a very cool afternoon during break, Shannon stood at the balcony of her class observing the cloud and listening to the rhythm of the songs from the birds, it was so melodious to her, as She was so much in love with nature. Stanley walked up to her and stretched out his hands for a handshake, he said “Hi, I am Stanley Shola”. The beautiful young lady smiled, revealing her nice set of teeth and returned the handshake. She replied “Shannon Nicolas is my name”. Stanley further went on to introduce himself and Shannon did same. They both spoke about so many things and they were both getting on really well that you would think they had known each other for ages.

Stanley was really a jovial guy, he was fun to be with and had a good sense of humour. As time went on the friendship between Stanley and Shannon had grown stronger that they frequently  visited each other’s homes. Stanley had two younger siblings, Bright and Stephanie, a boy and a girl respectively and they really loved Shannon. Stanley's parents were always busy with work, they were both bankers and barely had time for their children. Most times they only saw their children at night and this had affected the children's upbringing especially Stanley.

It was the time in the year when harmattan was at its peak, it was a really cold Saturday morning. Shannon had read late into the night and decided to rest since it was Saturday and the weather was so friendly. She was having a lovely dream when the knock on her door woke her up. "Good morning Shannon" her mom said, "am off to the hospital" she added. "Hummm okay mom" Shannon who was struggling with sleep managed to mutter.  Some minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Shannon wondered who it was. It would have been Stanley but she spoke to him earlier before going to bed and they had agreed to meet later in the day. She was now completely awake, she quickly rushed to the bathroom washed her face and quickly gulped a cap of mouth wash and immediately took a rinse.

She quickly came downstairs and looked through the door peep hole, to her greatest surprise it was Stanley, she wondered why he was at her place so early. She quickly opened the door, immediately he went on his knees with his hand stretched out and a well scented rose flower in it. The fragrance was so breathtaking and romantic, coupled with the weather.

Hope you enjoyed this episode? Look forward to the next. Your comments are essential.

“Shannon!’’ Mr. John Nicolas called from where he sat in the garden resting. “Yes dad, I will be with you in a jiffy” she answered. She came around and sat on the chair close to him, she was her dad’s pet. Shannon was so adorable and she had grown to become so beautiful, the type that one had to take a second at. She was tall, slim, dark in complexion and she had this breath taking smile, that gave way to her dimples.

Shannon had always loved art and all she dreamt of, was becoming the world’s most renowned artist and this made her spend most of her leisure time drawing and painting. Her mum was a paediatrician and her dad owned a business. Her mum was always busy due to her job but her dad had ample time for her. She was the only child. Shannon and her dad spoke about many things among's which includes the power of friends. He urged her to always keep the right company of friends. She made a promise to her dad to always do so.

A week later, Mr. John was on his way to a business meeting, when his car ran into a truck and he died almost immediately. Mr. John’s death grieved the Nicolas family. The funeral took place a week after the incident. Both families and friends where present, everyone had so much grief in their hearts. Mr. John was such a tender hearted man, he was very friendly.

Shannon sat close to her mum during the funeral. Her mum’s hand wrapped around her, Shannon couldn't get a grip of herself as her heart was deeply aching. Mrs Jane wasn't left out in this, she was so quiet, hot tear rolled down her cheeks as memories of her husband flashed through her mind. She wondered how living a life without her beloved sweetheart would be. They had barely spent time together in the last couple of weeks as she had been really busy in the hospital. It felt like a dream to Shannon, her best friend was gone forever. She hoped that one day the nightmare would be over. The Nicolas family was in great agony. Friends and family came around to console them.

To be continued, look out for the next episode, hope you enjoyed your reading. Your comments are essential.

Photograph in courstey of Sammiephotomagic