The Esthitude Place

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a scheme for Nigerian Graduates to serve their Motherland. The NYSC program is divided into three phases: Orientation Camp, PPA(Place of Primary Assignment) and POP (Passing Out Parade).

The Orientation camp is normally a 3-week long exercise in your state of deployment. Because 3 weeks (in one place) is not a small joke, and also to make the best of the camp, there are some things that you just mustn’t forget to take along (of course, you must not forget yourself at home).

So I carried out a research on the list of things that one needs to take along to camp and here is what I came up with:

The first part is the very important part:

Documents: for registration purpose

• Statement of result/ID card or certificate,
• Call up letter
• Green card
• Recent passport photographs (about 12: the more the merrier. White Background )
• Stapler, staple pins, tipex/correction pen and gum. This is normally not allowed but trust me you are so going to need it. You can buy that smallest size of stapler to avoid being discovered during screening/searching.
• In addition, if you are a Medical Doctor, Pharmacist or an Optometrist you will be expected to bring along of your registration certificate with the Nigerian Medical Council, Pharmacist Board, or Optometrist Registration Council and evidence of completion of housemanship or internship

The other part is the basic essentials, which include:

Clothing Essentials:

• White T-shirts (min of 2 pairs extra, you’ll be given 2 pairs in camp)
• White Shorts (min of 2 pairs extra, you’ll be given 2 pairs in camp)
• Whites tennis shoes (rubber type advisable…as it allows for rewashing)
• White socks (min of 2 pairs extra )
• Underwear (under vest, camisoles, tights). Underwear should be BLACK because of the transparency of the white tops and shorts
• Rubber slippers / flip flops
• Mufti or Casual wear (max of 3). Some camps may not allow you to wear mufti even on Sundays
• Towels, bed sheets, pillow case, duvet
• Nightie, pyjamas
• Handkerchiefs, face towels, wipes
• Hangers, pegs and a rope you can tie on a tree so as to spread your clothes after washing
• Combs and hair needs

Additional Essentials:       

• pillow
• mosquito net
• plates , cups, cutleries
• Food flask, water bottle
• Bucket (If your place of deployment is far…you can buy from the Mammy market)
• Torch light
• Toothbrush & Toothpaste
• Bath soap & Sponge
• Detergent & Laundry Soap
• Deodorants, hand sanitizers
• Toilet paper, sanitary towel
• Disinfectants
• Body Cream & Lotion
• Padlocks and keys
• Money, money, money. There are no ATM machines in camp o
• Writing pads, stationary, novels, diary
• Power bank, adaptor, camera, extra batteries
• E.g. cereal, beverage, milk, garri, biscuits, chinchin, sweets, chewing gum, gala, etc.Very Important
• Waist pouch/purse. Your money, phone(s), camera, everything valuable should be here. It should be on your waist 99.999% of the time, when you are asleep, in the bathroom, everywhere.
• For my christian friends, your Bible is very important
• Of course, you need a box/bag to put them all in

* Prices of items apart from fast consumer goods are usually higher than those outside, so it is advisable you buy the things you can before going to camp.

Cheers to all prospective corpers and safe trip to your various states of deployment.

P.S.  Make about 5 photocopies of all your documents before going to camp and put them all in a file.

Drop your comments below on other things that I might have missed out and don’t forget to share this post with your friends that are also going to serve.