Mandatory service in my country is a compulsory one-year youth service for every fresh graduate with in the country. Irrespective of the tribe or institution you came from, it is compulsory. The only set of people who are exempted is does who are 30 years of age and above. During the mandatory one-year service, Each corps member is expected to serve his or her country diligently and effectively.
This week's prompt reminds me of my one-year mandatory youth service. I remember how much I anticipated this because it's always a thing of joy to go for NYSC after being a graduate.
After registering for the NYSC program online. I had to wait for months before the call-up letter was out. Ever since when I was born, I have never traveled out of the Southwest. As a Yoruba girl, I have always stayed within my region I have never traveled to another region before. My prayer then was that I should be posted within south West, I could remember how my mum do woke up every night to pray about my NYSC posting.
On the day I received my call-up letter, I received the shock of my life, Guess what?
😦 when I checked my call-up letter, I discovered I was posted to Kaduna state, one of the Northern states that was known for kidnapping and terrorism. I couldn't hide my feelings, I burst into tears. How do I want to survive in such a place? I have never been to the north before, this and more are the thoughts flowing through my mind.
When I disclosed the news, my mum requested I stay back, but thanks to my dad, he encouraged me and asked me to go to any state I was posted to.
That was how I took a step of faith and decided to go for the one-year mandatory youth service. Traveling to Kaduna state was the longest journey I have ever made. I was on the road for 14 hours before I could arrive at my destination.
On getting to the NYSC camp, we are inspected and posted to our various hostels. The 21 days was really fun for me, I enjoyed my stay at the camp. There were lot of activities which include social night, skill acquisition program, carnival, and many more.
After the 21-day camp, we were given a posting letter that included our primary place of assignment. I was quite happy that I was posted in the town and not in a remote area. I was posted to a secondary school and I enjoyed my stay in that school.
The one-year mandatory youth service opened my eyes to a lot of things, I was able to make friends with people from other tribes, understand various cultures, and more. The one-year mandatory service was indeed a nice one for me. I was able to visit a lot of places which include Kaduna Central Market, Kaduna Airport, Kaduna oil refinery, and more.
Going for the one-year mandatory youth service is not a waste of time for me and won't encourage the idea of scrapping this scheme out. It helps to relate with other ethnic groups and understand their way of life.
My one-year mandatory youth service was really fun and I don't wish to return back to south West. Lol, but my mum insisted I should come back and not stay after the one-year mandatory youth service😂😂😂.
