What Happens During the Three Weeks of NYSC Orientation Camp

The orientation course is the first part of the NYSC service year and it is compulsory for every graduate mobilised for national service. According to the NYSC, the course lasts three weeks and is designed to prepare corps members for the year ahead — physically, mentally and socially.

Here is what to expect, from the day you arrive to the day you leave with your posting.

Arrival and registration

The first days are about documentation. You queue to register, present your call-up letter and credentials, are allocated to a hostel and platoon and collect your NYSC kit. Queues can be long, so arrive early in the registration window with your documents ready — see our camp documents checklist.

Foreign-trained graduates must be verified by the Verification Officer before leaving camp; the NYSC warns that failure to do so can lead to cancellation of registration.

The swearing-in ceremony

The orientation course opens with a swearing-in ceremony. The NYSC explains that it is presided over by the state's Executive Governor (or the FCT Minister), and the Oath of Allegiance and the National Pledge are administered by the Chief Judge of the state or FCT. From this point you are formally a corps member.

A typical day in camp

Days start early and are structured. According to the NYSC, the course includes:

• Physical training and drills — morning parades and exercises
• Lectures on the people and traditions of your host state
• Professional lectures for groups such as health workers, lawyers and teachers
• Skills acquisition training, including entrepreneurship development

Expect bugle calls, parades and a timetable you follow closely.

Competitions and social life

Camp is not all drills. The NYSC describes social activities designed to help corps members interact, including:

• dance and drama competitions
• Miss NYSC and Mr Macho
• inter-platoon competitions in football, volleyball, table tennis, cooking and sanitation
• Man O' War activities, inter-platoon drills and tug of war

Some states also ask corps members to bring cultural or traditional attire for a cultural carnival.

Why the orientation course exists

The NYSC lists its objectives as helping corps members understand the scheme, get to know their new environment, prepare for their roles, build leadership and social skills, and develop national consciousness, discipline and a spirit of collective responsibility.

The end of camp: posting

At the end of the orientation course, corps members are posted to their place of primary assignment (PPA). The NYSC says it considers corps members' areas of specialisation, with emphasis on rural postings in agriculture, health, education and infrastructure.

After camp, the service year continues with your primary assignment, Community Development Service (CDS) and, at the end of the year, winding-up and passing out.

How to make the most of camp

• Pack well — our camp checklist helps.
• Take part in platoon activities; it is the fastest way to make friends.
• Look after your health and tell the camp clinic about any condition early.
• Keep your documents safe throughout.
• Arrive with people you already know — find corps members travelling to your camp before you leave home.