How To Prepare For NYSC Orientation Camp

The NYSC Orientation Camp programme
duration is 21 full days. The 21st day is the
day you will leave the camp to your PPA
(Place Of Primary Assignment). Once you
see your name in the NYSC mobilization list,
ensure that you do the following:

1. If you are posted to a far state, especially
to the northern part of Nigeria, try and find
friends, who may be heading towards the
same direction. This help you feel relaxed
and comfortable on your trip.
2. Ensure you buy your NYSC kit early to
avoid last minute rush. The prices of NYSC
kit tends to increase when the news of
respective NYSC batches is out. You might
be wondering why you would need extra
white shirts, shorts, tennis and socks at the
camp. This is because the ones provided at
the orientation camps are of inferior quality
and are useless.
3. Get the following documents and items
ready. We listed the compulsory and
optional items according to their
preferences.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS YOU WOULD
NEED AT THE NYSC ORIENTATION CAMP
a. Statement of Result, WAEC/NECO, JAMB
Admission Letter (original copies)
b. Valid School ID Card
c. Enough passport photographs about 30
copies or more.
d. Call-Up Letter (Please do not laminate
your call up letter as you can be expelled
from the camp)
e. A file (To carry the items above)

NB: You are expected to get about 20 photocopies
each of items A,B, and D above. It might be
more or less.
As for the optional and convenience items,
You would get them to avoid “borrow me”
syndrome. Things like toiletries, towels,
sponge, provisions, bed sheet, mosquito net,
cardigan and cash. Trust me, the
mosquitoes and cold are not friendly. Below
are the optional and convenience items

OPTIONAL ITEMS TO FACILITATE YOUR
SCREENING AND STAY AT CAMP
a. Stapler, two packets of pins and office
gum (You will use this as you register)
b. Three white T-shirts and shorts. As said
earlier, you will be given two sets but of
inferior quality.
c. Two or three pairs of socks and a white
rubber tennis shoes (for rainy days)
d. Bathroom slippers, mosquito net, sponge,
soap and detergent, bed-sheet and Dettol
e. Two plastic buckets (buy it in the camp,
to save you from carrying much load on
your journey)
f. You would need enough money like
N25,000 at hand and your ATM card. it might increase due to
the economic situation of the country.
4. Before you make your trip, make sure you
phone is fully charged and maybe even keep
an extra battery to always be in touch with
family
5. Small rechargeable travel light.
NB To make your stay at the orientation
camp smooth and more comfortable, travel
to the state you were posted early
especially for those posted to a far state. It
is best you go the day before the camp
opens as going late will make the
registration stressful for you.

Things To Expect Within the
NYSC Orientation Camp
As soon as you enter the gate of your
various orientation camps, you will see
enough uniformed men. Your screening
starts at the gate. Of course, you might be
afraid, but just follow orders.

1. Thorough search
Your loads would be searched thoroughly as
they don’t want any weapons or prohibited
items like iron, knives, bombs, etc. within
the camp
2. Registration
Usually, the first registration is normally for
hostel/bedspace. You would be given tags
to identify with. Do not misplace your tags
as they would be collected at the place
where you will collect your foam. Other
registrations at the NYSC orientation camp
will follow. Provide all necessary documents
asked of you. Strictly follow instructions.
3. Your NYSC Kits
You will be given all your NYSC kits during
the registration phase. They include shirts,
shorts and shoes. To avoid stealing and for
proper identification, use a permanent
marker to write your Code Number (CN) on
them. This Code Number is your temporary
ID card that you will use in your stay at the
camp. Without this CN, you cannot eat the
free food offered in the camp.
4. Casual Wears will not be allowed
When you get your kits, only your white T-
shirt, white shorts, white socks and white
tennis shoe will be allowed for the 21 days
in the orientation camp. Although, there may
be times where you might put on your full
NYSC kit i.e the Uniform itself.
5. Regimented Programme/Parade
If you are the type that wakes up late, you
would have to adjust as you would have to
wake up as early as 3:30am, so as to get
prepared. A trumpet wakes you at 4am.
Everyone would be expected to assemble at
the parade ground by 4:30am. Praises and
worship for different religions (Christians
and Islam) will be said.
At 7am, you have your breakfast. You can
choose not to eat the food given free at the
camp or go to the mammy market and eat a
more balanced diet. After breakfast, you will
be called out again for the series of fitness
and Skill Acquisition Entrepreneurship
Programmes (SAED). After the programme,
your take your lunch. You will be given some
time to rest before another evening parade
and then, your dinner. This will continue
everyday until you leave the orientation
camp.

6. Your allowance a.k.a Allawe
Unless it has been increased, your first
allowance will be N19, 800 which will be
given to you in cash at the NYSC camp. and
it will be in cash. You will also get Bicycle
Allowance. This N19,800 will continue until
you finish service. Some might collect state
allawee, that’s if you are lucky. Spend
wisely
7. Place Of Primary Assignment (PPA)
Your PPA is where you will be posted to do
your work. Most Corpers will be posted to
primary schools and secondary schools, few
will be posted to the state capital and other
places. Do not lobby or bribe anyone for
your posting, especially the ladies. Just pray
to God for a good PPA. Receive your PPA in
good faith. After all, youths obey the clarion
call under the sun or in the rain.
8. Always do your clearance
NYSC clearance should be taken seriously
by all youth corp members. You would have
to do this before you go home. It is very
important because it registers you as a
NYSC youth corper in the local government
you were posted. Failure to complete your
clearance before going home would see
your subsequent monthly allowance/allawee
not being recieved
Hope you understand the process on how to
prepare for NYSC now. Share to others if
you find this piece informative. GOODluck