Based on the experiences of 4 ex corpers
Sometime last year I asked at wanshygirl on instagram a few questions about what her service year was like, as i was in a bit of a fix at the time and that’s what brought about the idea to share the experiences of a few people on my timeline and i’m so grateful that they were all willing and happy to share.
Ebun BELLO
Instagram: @wanshygirl
Introduce yourself?
I’m Ebun Bello, Graduate of Mass Communication, Fashion and Lifestyle blogger at wanshygirl.wordpress.com and all-around creative. I’m obsessed with fashion, food and the internet.
*When and where did you national youth service take place?
I was called up for the 1 year compulsory National Youth Service Corps in April 2016. I served my fatherland in a town called Ilobu located in Osun, State.
*What was your experience moving into the city you served in?
My place of primary assignment wasn’t exactly a city so let’s go with “the town”. Moving into a new environment was quite challenging. Btw this was my first time living far away from home as I’ve spent most of my life in Lagos State. I had to speak more of my local language, fetch water from a well, commute to the city to get cash and essentials. It wasn’t a life of comfort yet it humbled me.
*What was your working experience as a YOUTH CORPER?
As a youth corp member, part of your service requirement is to work in one sector of the country. I was hoping to work in a media house since I studied Mass Communication. Unfortunately, I was posted to a high school and given the post of English Language tutor. Prior to that, I did not have any teaching experience so you can imagine how terrified I was.
I gave it to God and saw it as an opportunity to do something different. It wasn’t a smooth ride in the beginning yet with time I got the hang of it. I even became a fave among the students as they didn’t want me to leave at the end of the service year.
How well did you adjust to the school life vs work life Change?
It didn’t take so long. I had friends from home who were posted to the same state, they pretty much schooled me and gave me tips and tricks. Within a month I had settled in. Also, my landlord, landlady and co-tenants (also corpers) were warm and welcoming and made us feel at home.
*Highlights of your Nysc experience?
– Successfully teaching almost 200 students and having an impact on them. (It was little but it was still something)
– Improving my Yoruba
– Making new friends, not just any type of friends but friends that helped me grow in every aspect of life.
– Visiting one of Nigeria’s tourism sites – Olumirin Waterfalls, Erin Ijesa.
– Learning a vocational skill ( Leather Slippers and sandal making)
*If you were to change something about your Nysc experience what would it be?
My place of employment – I’ll have loved to work in a media house.
*Do you think NYSC should be scrapped or sustained? Why?
Tbh this is one issue we’ll always go back and forth on. I’ll be on the fence on this but all I’ll say is we can do better.
Sarah AUDU
Instagram: @princessaudu
*Introduce yourself
My name is Sarah Audu, I’m a social media manager/journalist by day and a blogger always.
*When and where did your national youth service take place ?
I served in Calabar, Cross River State in 2016
*What was your experience moving into the city you served in?
My experience was awesome. I loved it there honestly and still miss it. Moving to a new city was made easy thanks to my awesome host family who took me in as their daughter. I miss the calmness of the city compared to Abuja and I loved all the Colonial buildings that kept feeding my eyes. I also miss all those delicious soups my aunt used to prepare too, you all know my Efik people carry first when it comes to Nigerian food. 
*What was your working experience as a YOUTH CORPER?
I’m so thankful for my experience serving at the first private radio station in Calabar seeing as it was related to my discipline in Communications. It also shaped my career and helped me build up my experience on my CV. I honestly worked like a proper employee which really made my service year beneficial and not a waste like a lot of my friends.
and how well did you adjust into the school life vs work life Change?
It wasn’t as challenging, as prior to my NYSC, I had already spent sometime in the 9-5 life. Also with media, you work in shifts so it’s not as stressful. Well except if you count working on weekends and public holidays which really takes adjusting too.
*Highlights of your Nysc experience?
A highlight was being able to explore a part of nigeria that I’ve never been too. It exposed me to a new culture too esepcially when you talk food. I also served in a worthwhile place where I made close friends (who I still keep in touch with) and built myself as a media person.
*If you were to change something about your Nysc experience what would it be?
Can I change the pay, because lets be honest that monthly allowance was super small. I always wondered how people who stayed on their own coped. Other than that I wish, I had also volunteered at the TV station there, Ebony Life TV so as to get a feel of media on TV
*Do you think NYSC should be scrapped or sustained? Why?
Based on my experience I would say absolutely not. A lot of people have actually been gainfully employed through this. Three colleagues that I served with were employed fully at the station. Now I wasn’t retained but it made getting a job easier due to my experience. I just feel the system needs to by revised. People need to be posted to places where they can be useful. Also perhaps it should not be compulsory and I’d scrap camp too because it’s not worth all that stress esepcially with those horrible conditions (toilet).
Adebowale OLAYIWOLE
Instagram: @bowalexo
Tosin Olaniyi
Instagram: @tosinolaniyi
Introduce yourself
My name is Tosin Olaniyi. I am a Digital Content Creator for Lifestyle, food and travel brands.
*When and where did your national youth service take place?
I obliged to the National Youth Service between January 2017 and December 2017. I served in Ekiti state – Ado Ekiti (the state capital), to be precise.
In the beginning, I had mixed feelings. It wasn’t so strange because my mum is from Ekiti so I had quite a number of family members to relate with. However, considering the fact that I was away from a whole lot of comfort and resources for my blog, there were sometimes I wanted to give up but I kept pushing.
*What was your working experience as a YOUTH CORPER?
and how well did you adjust into the school life vs work life Change?
My experience was really wack to be very honest. The only things that gave me joy there were my family members and the lovely people I met at church and at CDS. Asides that, I hated my job. I was teaching English and Literature at a deserted private school, from Js1-Ss3 for just #4,000; a sum of money I never collected completely. I’m still being owed #6,500 but I don dash them that one 😂
After school in 2016, I was working on my own as a content creator, so the transition from school to working during NYSC wasn’t so difficult. Though, the money wasn’t much, I was happy. NYSC kinda took that away from me because I had to struggle to get my online jobs yet wake up every morning to go to a job that I was completely sad about. It led to a series of mini depression episodes but I’m glad that’s over now.
*Highlights of your Nysc experience?
Church was my solace and my family were very supportive too. Aside that, my highlight would be going to Ikogosi with my friends and eating at almost every eatery in Ado 😂
*If you were to change something about your Nysc experience what would it be?
I wouldn’t even register for NYSC and if I did, I’d serve in Lagos.
*Do you think NYSC should be scrapped or sustained? Why?
I think it shouldn’t be compulsory. It should be a voluntary scheme. Not everyone wants to be thrown in a completely different environment form what they’re used to and enjoy it. Some people even die in the process.
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- I definitely found reading all the experiences interesting as it has reminded me how important it is to make the best of whatever place/ situation we find ourselves in.
I love Ebun’ s highlights, positively impacting on the lives of over 200 students a feat most may never achieve because we do not want to teach during Nysc or ever.
I also really like how an Nysc job which usually isn’t taken seriously helped shape Sarah’s career and build up her cv. Your service year can be useful.
Bowale’s immense contribution to his community development service group is spurring me to do more in the few months I have left. Sometimes it’s not what our community can do for us but what we can do for our community. It’s a year of service after all.
I have always known how important a support system/backbone is in making things easier and Tosins experience has further reinforced that.
Thanks to everyone who shared their Nysc experience, I learnt more than a few things and I hope whoever is reading this takes something away from each of these experiences.
If you are a prospective corper i’d like to know if you found this post useful. If you are currently serving let’s know what your experience is like so far, and if you are done serving, tell us how it went.
I look forward to reading from you.
click each name to find Nysc related posts on their blogs and click their Instagram handles to be directed straight to their Instagram page.
You can also find my Nysc camp experience here for your reading pleasure .
If you made it this far, thank you for reading 😘.
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