NYSC; Not a Journey, It Was an Experience.

 

I left Peace Mass Transit Akure at about 9:10am exactly for Umuahia in Abia State. As usual, I was enthusiastic about the journey as I love traveling so well. 

Since the bus had almost only PCMs on board, it was not hard to make new (casual) friends.

The journey begin to become tiring ;l;lwhen we got to Onitsha heading towards Imo and we were meeting so many military checkpoints on the way. " oga, we be corper" became a song in our mouth as everyone one kept asking who are you guys...

Long story short about the journey, we arrived Umuahia at 10:37pm after my butt became swollen from sitting for too long...

Long story short about the journey, we arrived Umuahia at 10:37pm after my butt became swollen from sitting for too long...

The keke that took us from Tower to Gate almost ran us street  when he said our fare was 1k instead of the normal 300naira, thanks to a Yoruba man that fought for us, las las, keke no gree collect money as he left angrily, who dat one help 🤷‍♂️ na CDS he do for us 😂

We got a bus going to Umunna-Bende where the orientation camp was located, we got to the gate at exactly 12:11am (yes, I kept record of those times because of a day like this), we had to explain to the military officers why we arrived so late, upon say all na shakara.

We got in at last and was told we can't get bed anymore so we had to sleep on an iron bunk till daybreak.

Ha! Upon these body ache?

But then, I've got no choice, na me wan serve.

Fast forward, I was in Platoon 7 and was nominated as the Social Director (man must always represent na) 😂

I was a member of the Media Team in NCCF and wouldn't miss the evening fellowships for anything.

I joined my platoon to cook in the kitchen twice (yes, I'm a great cook too)

I would always joke with my colleagues that you would be posted to Isiala-Ngwa (since we heard they eat human flesh), lo and behold, when I got my PPA letter, I was left in shock to see that my friends were posted to the state capital and I was posted to the same Isiala-Ngwa South LGA.

As hard guy wey I be, I no fit cry but he pain me die, I couldn't even show my friends my PPA letter.

Omoba town in Isiala-Ngwa South was a peaceful place to dwell in BUT, there was no power supply for months prior to our coming, ha! which kind wahala be this?

We pay to charge everything even torchlight.

No, we can't continue like this I told my brother and friend, Emmanuel Nicodemus, we need to pray against all forms of darkness.

Yes! I stayed in NCCF family house.

We prayed with faith and trusted God to do His thing, we went home for Christmas only to return in January to meet power supply, is God not wonderful?

I met wonderful people in the family house, Fredrick, Dogara, Rita, Sonia, they nearly killed me with food and I enjoyed the one pot rule, though I struggled to cope with the one language rule but as a law abiding citizen, I ttied small.😂

Anchoring sessions in the fellowship is something I always look out to as I enjoyed it, 

Oh! I won't forget Gbenga on how he quotes over 20 Bible verses for a 10mimutes session in the morning devotion, the guy was so humble to the core, unlike me that was a tout for the Lord😂

Then it was time for transitioning in the family house, on whom will the mantle of leadership fall on?

The next Bible study secretary is Olalekan, I wasn't really shocked (I've never been shocked anytime I am ordained to take on a religious post), na God work and He go run am through me.😉

The next Choir secretary...

The next Media cord...

Na so I carry 3 post in the first phase of service o.

God was doing His work and we were also equipping ourselves spiritually.

Oh! I loved the NCCF State Chapter organized programs;

📍18 hours prayer retreat

📍State Conference

📍Praise & Drama Concert

📍Rural Rugged ❤️

How will I forget to mention the amazing corps members friends & families I met in Omoba.

Azeezat, Kukorimam, Alhaja, Ramadan, Hannah, Doyinsola, Patience, Abiodun, Seyi, TeaTea, Adenike, Omolola, Victor, Endurance, and others I can't mention here.

Another transitioning phase came in the family house and a grander assignment was committed into my hands.

I became the Uncle & Rugged of the entire Isiala-Ngwa South LGA.

The Lord truly did marvelous things through us and we're grateful for them all.

Outreaches, CBC, School Evangelism, Visitation also were the things we have ourselves to as the Lord have the grace.

To cap it all, I was nominated the CLO of the LGA to add to the NCCF offices I was already manning, ontop this small body, but God really was my engine.🙌🏾

Pango Young (a troublesome corp member) almost made the CLO office burdensome for me, several meeting with the DSS because of him, LGI, State Coordinator, Zonal Inspector would always call me because of him, my blood almost dried up but God pass am.

Oh!

I forgot to mention, asides spiritual growth, I really enjoyed financial blessing during my service year in the same Isiala-Ngwa South LGA where people run away from.

I bought a phone worth 110k, a laptop with 160k during my service year and still had over 100k savings while leaving.

No ask for money, I already paid my tithes.

I didn't mention my PPA at all, Brandon Christian College, Umukegwu (that's another story for another day😂)

The CLO duty came with its ups and downs I must confess, days I leave home as early as 4:30am for official assignment, days I slept outside in the cold so new corp members can sleep comfortably, days I sacrificed my finances and food too but then, God's kingdom was advancing through us and the Corps Members had a good stay too.

My LGI is a father indeed I must confess, Ogbodo Valentine Maduka, God bless you wherever you are.

"I don't like working with Yoruba people" were his words when I was being announced as the new CLO but " Shola really did well and made me proud" were his words when it was announced to the whole house that I was leaving.

All to the glory of God.

My neighbors and parents in the family house, Daddy Value and family & Mommy Kosi and family were one of the many reasons I didn't relocate from Abia.

Their hospitality spirit is out of this world.

Words of advice, local delicacies on regular occasions, encouragements even prayers made the stay a swell time.

Living Faith Church, Omoba led then by a father indeed; Pastor Matthew Godsown Efosa was a save haven for me.

I remembered how I will go quietly into the church to pray for strength and clarity then thinking no one saw me, only for my pastor to say "I saw you when you sneaked into the church" 

Daddy Matthew, thanks for those doses of wisdom and spiritual growth you gave to us, God bless you.

My NCCF children, Mastey Phebe Boma &  Mamo Deborah Deekor, you both know I love you na.

Thanks for the sacrifices you made for the kingdom, thanks for feeding me well too, your wahala sef follow join but my heart blesses you both tonight.

Finally on August 11th, 2022, I passed out of the NYSC scheme richly and greatly blessed by God in all spheres in the same Isiala-Ngwa South LGA people ran away from calling a cursed land.

" Wherever the sole of your feet shall touch, I'll take them as an inheritance for you" (Deuteronomy 11:34) was the promise of God that played out in my life.